Hasn't welfare always offered direct cash payments to recipients? What else would it be?
There hasn't been a "Welfare" program in some time, at least by that name.
Instead a bunch of programs have taken the place of welfare. Research these:
SSI
TANF
FI (Family Independence), which promotes DEpendence
SNAP
Plus there are programs to help pay your rent, your utility bill, for daycare, etc. ad nauseam.
And, as you might expect, every program is abused and filled with fraud.