New Data Shows Welfare Not Helping Neediest Families Says the Children's Defense Fund

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[FITZ]

Where are the fathers? As usual, they aren't even mentioned.

If there really is extreme poverty --- which I don't believe, I live in the poorest area of the USA and all you see is fat kids ---- maybe they should start awarding child custody to the unwed fathers. Or get the babies into adoption.

[Eva]

No, there is now a time limit on how long a person is allowed to be on welfare and it is cumulative, so if a woman is on welfare for two years before getting a job and then loses or quits the job, the first welfare period is deducted from the quota. I believe that it is 5 years, but I am not at all sure about that.

[FITZ]

I very much doubt that they're really doing this ---- unless it is one welfare program only. Maybe TANF? There are girls in the high school here with 2 or 3 kids before they finish, the kids are in head start and free daycare which is right at the high school ---- those are obviously welfare programs ---and I don't see any signs of that closing down. I see more food stamps use now than I've ever seen before and Medicaid seems to be on the increase.

[Eva]

That's because they are under 18 and still dependent. The count down doesn't start until they are adults.

[mtbopfuyn]

In this area about 40% of babies are born to single young mothers and it's not unusual to see high school girls with 2 or 3 babies, they're in school because it gives them free breakfast, lunch, and free daycare but most have no goals except to try and get another "boyfriend".

That's true. The high school girls are only in school for the freebies. I've been at the school daycare centers when they drop off their babies giggling that the workers should give the babies a bath and feed them because they are late to class but then can't find their way to class because they're too busy talking with their other unwed mommy friends about who they went out with the night before and how many months pg they are again. Then in the afternoons they can't be bothered to pick up their babies until after 5, never mind they got out of class at noon.

Give them a baby asprin to hold between their knees.

[Eva]

Some of the states, including WA were granted permission to extend welfare benefits because of the unemployment rates and poverty rates, but only a few.

[FITZ]

They get their WIC, their Food Stamps, their Medicaid, their free Head Start babysiting with free breakfast and lunch, free day care, free preschool with free breakfast and lunch, free housing. I have a feeling none of this is being counted as welfare, I think some people call only TANF "welfare" ---- there certainly is no decrease in people living off government handouts in this area of the country.

[FITZ]

I think they need to stop giving them welfare when they're under 18. Let their families support them, let their families pay for their day care, diapers, formula, etc. It's pretty foolish that we're encouraging girls to have 3 or 4 fatherless kids before they turn 18 and then cut them off the handouts. I very much doubt many will find themselves having to work for a living. Why get them used to some kind of free ride which doesn't encourage them at all to limit their family size while still in high school?

[Eva]

I agree with you, but I believe that welfare is state administered with help from the feds. That's why California is in such deep trouble, too much welfare for illegals.