How long should a person be allowed to stay on assistance from the state?
@myspecialplace (126)
United States
13 responses
@bhchy1 (6047)
• United States
4 Oct 06
If they have small children..until the youngest is school age..but before then they should have training classes for careers...have the ssate pay for thier preschool/daycare so they have a way to be self sufficient after they get off assistance. That way they can stay off instead of repeating a cycle over and over again.
@myspecialplace (126)
• United States
4 Oct 06
I think daycare is one thing but what about cash assistance?
@bhchy1 (6047)
• United States
4 Oct 06
In California...they give you jobs and you have to work them in exchange for your cash assistance...after you have done training and can get a job else where..cash assistance ends. I know other states do this as well. I think it is an excellent progra to help people get out of the welfare roles. Most mothers on welfare where raised on welfare...It's the best solution I know of to break that cycle. Also some states will only provide medical assistance and food stamps for children born after you have been on welfare more than a year..that also breaks the chain of more babies more cash.
@AndreaM76 (1164)
• United States
5 Oct 06
It's good to know because Oklahoma is much leaner on this. They give it to everyone that steps in their office. it disgusts me they are so frivolous with our tax dollars. I know a woman who has had 5 kids before they had her tie her tubes. She has been on food stamps since oldest one was born and the medical care etc. Plus she recieves back child support for two of her kids that has lived with thier dad instead of her since she was pregnant with the last. The irony the step mother and thier grandma are social workers in the same very county.
@classicaljazz (1628)
• United States
4 Oct 06
How can you make this decision without knowing the circumstance? Don't you think that each case is unique and deserves individual attention?
@luvnsierra (114)
• United States
5 Oct 06
I agree! I am getting read to have twins so that will make 3 kids. I am not on assistant thanks to my husband but daycare is so expensive that I would just to pay for it. That is why i stay home. My husband makes around $16 an hour and we struggle sometimes. I couldn't imagine being a single mom. But alot of people take advantage of it!!
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
9 Oct 06
I think this is something that is very hard to determine. Many states already have a welfare to work program in place that only allows you to stay on assistance for a certian amount of time then you gradually get off. You can alos only be only be on assistance for a certian number of years in your life. They do help you find a job.
@acdc0805 (979)
• United States
9 Oct 06
I agree with that, of course on a case by case basis. But I know that some families just continue to have chidlren to be able to stay on it, and that frustrates me. I think maybe after so many years or so many kids, that the state should call it quits...
@skittlez353 (1402)
• United States
5 Oct 06
I think it should be as long as needed. We all know that some people take advantage of assistance like that but some others are single family raising 2-3 kids, on their own and can`t work or cant afford groceries and need that assistance for more than 6 months. Is every state different because Florida is every 6 months, you have to check in.
@sillygirlsd (959)
• United States
5 Oct 06
Agree....^^^....In California you have to report every 3 months....And you have to show proof that you did look for work...Some people go into buisnesses and ask people to sign their sheet that says that they stopped by and applied for a job..Sometimes they know the person working or the person working doesn't care and just signs it....They should make a person work. Any job is better than no job...
@sillygirlsd (959)
• United States
5 Oct 06
It all depends on the individuals situation!
I think assistance should be allowed as long as it takes for them not to need it...People that can work should work..THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO HOLD A JOB!!!In many cases some women take advantage and just stay home living off other people's money. A friends friend lived off welfare for one kid...child support from the other...recieved food stamps...and WIC..she just recently started working because the court said that if she didn't work they would stop her child support because her ex complained about her not working...She just got a job this year after not having a job for 13yrs...I think that is so unfair for everyone else that has children and need help and don't use Government money.....Older people or people that have serious health problems or disibilities should be allowed to have it always...they are unable to work and have no money to be paying for medical bills, food etc...
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
8 Oct 06
Here we have "Job seekers allowance" I think after two years one should of been able to have got a job by then. Although I realise this scheme also allows people to study not suffer the shortfall of income, so providing you're not on a scheme lke that I'd say two years at most.
@AndreaM76 (1164)
• United States
5 Oct 06
This is such a fine line subject. You have those that need help because they had an unseen circumstance job loss whatever, then you have those who have ten kids and can't afford daycare and medical on an minumium wage job. Then you you have those who are fully capable of working but refuse to do so or works very minuinum hours so they can milk the system. It should be only temporary like the first senario anticipates to only use it to get back on their feet but it doesn't always happen. Then you have illegal aliens who can't get health care using it as well for some reason state will pay for someone to have babies when they can't even speak english to tell them what they are applying for. I'm not bitter or judgemental. I had to use it to start over 8 years ago but then I worked my self way above that level. I believe in helping those who really need help but it makes me sick that people get this help who doesn't need it. I think if after 6mos to 1 year if you don't have what you need then you need to ba able to prove why you still need it and do some community service to continue with it. It's just my opinion.
@tater03 (1765)
• United States
5 Oct 06
I think it should be done on a case by case basis. I do get frustrated with the one that use it just because they are to lazy to work. People like that if they are caught should have their paychecks garnered when they do get a job to pay what they stole back. And eventually they well have to work nine out of ten times.
