Welfare

[keith27m1985]

do you think we should work for welfare or just recieve it

[frozenimage]

I think for welfare, we should be tested for drugs, and have mandatory public services for 20 hours/w at least. Should a person test positive for drugs, he/she can't apply for an year, and if the services are less than 20 hours/week, benefits will be reduced. My 2 cents.

[southernhorizons]

You should work for wages, not welfare. Those of us that have jobs have our own families to support, we shouldn't have to pay such high taxes to support other people too that are too lazy to work for themselves. Welfare was started originally to help people temporarily over rough spots, but now there's multi-generations of leeches sucking the hard-earned wages from people who do work.

[vp44]

I would think one would be willing to work for wages instead of being on welfare. I do think that you should work for every penny you get on welfare. Being in the times we have now many people have to resort to welfare as a means of putting food on the table for they family. There is alot of people on welfare who husbands make alot of money and they abuse the system in many ways. I have seen this in stores when a person pull out they benefit card and then put all that food in a mercedes benz or other expensive cars. We also give to illegals who are not even citizens so alot of spending there which shouldnt be. There to many single women working for a living and taking care of children all alone who need help. I dont downgrade anyone for getting public aide, I only feel disgust for those who abuse the system and cause many tax payers money. What people really dont realize is that most of people on welfare are either the ones who need it , the ones who abuse it and the ones who shouldnt even get it if your not a citizen. Those are my thoughts. 

[davidh121]

I've not been in a situation where I would have to use Welfare and hopefully never. There are people who genuinely need the service, but more often than not I hear about people who truly abuse the system and I hate parasites. People should put an effort to still work and leech the system.

[rmendoza1]

Where I live you have to work a certain number of hours per week or you don't get any money. You also have to sign a Welware to Work plan where you make a plan on how you are going to be self-sufficient. But that's just for the cash aid. Cash aid has a time limit of 5 years. For food stamps you just have to make under the income limit and you will be eligible. I don't think there's a time limit on that though. It would be great if there was a drug test though.

[lovekittytam]

You should not have to work in order to get welfare benefits. If you need assistance until you get on your feet, then you need assistance. As long as you are not using the system.

[dmahoney]

work for it. Nothing in life is free. We only apprecitate the things we work for in one way or another. This is just my opinion. 

[ssliva67]

there are enough jobs in the US for everyone to have..people just are not willing to work for certain wages..if we did not have welfare, I would bet that more people would accept any wage instead of going hungry.

[vp44]

there are enough jobs in the US for everyone to have..people just are not willing to work for certain wages..if we did not have welfare, I would bet that more people would accept any wage instead of going hungry.

WOW what US you live in with so many out of work and so many illegalls holding American jobs that American can do but not for cheap labor.

[marciaenglish]

Work for it!  Where would our country be if everything was handed to them!  I think people should have to work for the welfare and the welfare dept. should help to make sure they can find work!

[ktheodos]

Very good question, and one that's definitely coming up frequently this time of year - I do think there should be some time of "work" requirement for welfare - I don't think it should necessarily be a "job," but perhaps some time volunteering or other type of service work.  Nothing is free, and yet, I don't lack compassion either. Thing is, sometimes people do get dependent and lose motivation, skills, resources, etc. if they're on welfare.  Another thing too - getting involved in community allows opportunity to network, meet other people, etc., which are as important keys in getting jobs as applying through the process, etc....something that often gets overlooked in the welfare debate

[dreamyxo]

Welfare should not be permanent.  Generations of families should not be on welfare.  Welfare should be temporary and if you are on it you should be actively trying to do things that will improve your situation not get complacent expecting handouts forever.

[demaina]

Something, maybe.  I don't know cause I haven't been in the situation that I need it, however, I have family that kinda abuse it so I'd prefer people who actually need it to get it instead of just anyone for whatever reason.

[tjshorty]

I am so sorry people don't understand the system.  If you are ablebodied you work.  It is mandtory that you have a wage paying job of atleast 30 hrs a week.  Benefits are adjusted accordingly.  Since it is a regular job that the (tax payers) would have, you are also subject to all the drug testing and things that ( a normal) wage earner would go through.  Plus since your family receives benefits, your children had better not miss school for any reason (Just incase the social worker feels that they didn't need to, even if they went to the doctor.)  Your sixteen year old needs to have a job, and not miss work.  Because if they miss school or work and the case worker doesn't agree with the reason.  The family is sanctioned for a period of time. Could be just a few months or longer.  Oh by the way, that working family, that also receives benefits, also pays taxes. Another thing you might want to concider, is that the people now becoming eligeble for benefits are our senior citizens, they have reached their retirement and still need assistance because the meds they take cost to much and is sucking up their social security.  Esp, in the time that they fall into that donut whole and the insurance won't cover them.