In the United States, welfare is one of the most contentious issues. Many people believe it is a necessary safety net for those unable to provide for themselves, while others believe it is just a handout that encourages “laziness.”
In Europe, some of the earliest welfare programs were established less than two centuries ago. And when was welfare created in the United States? In this article, we’ll look at the history of social welfare in the US and the various amendments, benefit eligibility, and the pros and cons of this vital social program.
What Is a Welfare Program?
Welfare is a federal government program that provides assistance to low-income individuals and families. The exact nature of the assistance varies from state to state but typically includes food stamps, housing subsidies, and medical care. Welfare programs are means-tested: Only people who meet income criteria are eligible for benefits.
In the United States, welfare is administered by the federal government through the Department of Health and Human Services. There are several welfare programs in the United States, the major ones being the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Housing Assistance.
Unlike the four entitlement programs (Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, Medicare, and Worker's Compensation), these six US welfare programs are funded by tax dollars.
Each of these programs has specific eligibility requirements and provides different types of assistance. TANF, for example, provides cash assistance to low-income families with children, whereas Medicaid helps low-income people pay for health care.
When Was the Welfare System Created?
The first welfare program in the United States was created in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation. The Social Security Act provided financial assistance to the elderly, unemployed and disabled workers, victims of industrial accidents, people with disabilities, and dependent mothers and children.
In addition, the act created an unemployment insurance system, which provided benefits to workers who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own. Since its inception, the welfare system has undergone numerous changes, but its basic goal remains the same - to provide financial assistance to those in need.
The History of Welfare in the US
The history of the American welfare system is long and complicated. There was no formal welfare system in place before the 20th century. Instead, various churches and charities stepped in to help those in need.
The United States welfare system has its origins in the Great Depression. The Social Security Act of 1935 created a safety net for Americans who could not work due to old age, illness, or disability. The Aid to Families with Dependent Children program was introduced the following year.
Many families were struggling to make ends meet then, so the federal government and welfare programs in the US began to provide some financial assistance. The New Deal programs were intended to provide economic assistance to the unemployed and those struggling to make ends meet. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the modern welfare system began to take shape.
Congress passed the Public Welfare Amendments, a bill to expand and improve public assistance and child welfare services, in 1962. Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed racial voting discrimination.
Welfare Reform in the United States
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996. This legislation is often referred to as “welfare reform.” The legislation aimed to get welfare recipients back into the labor force and off government assistance.
PRWORA accomplished this by limiting welfare benefits and requiring able-bodied adults to work or enroll in job training programs. The law also created a new program - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - which provided block grants to states to fund welfare programs.
The welfare reform has reduced the number of people receiving government assistance, but as some critics argue, it has also increased poverty and hardship for many families.
Who Is on Welfare in the United States?
It is a common misconception that only low-income people in the United States are on welfare. In reality, various groups rely on government assistance.
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, roughly one-fifth of all Americans receive some form of welfare assistance. This includes social benefits such as food stamps (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Supplemental Security Income. A majority of program participants in 2017 only received SNAP benefits, while more than three-quarters of all TANF, SNAP, and SSI recipients only received SNAP.
Children, the elderly, single-female households with children, and disabled adults make up the vast majority of those receiving welfare benefits. In fact, married adults who do not have dependent children account for slightly more than one-tenth of all welfare recipients.
The benefits of welfare are not limited to low-income households. Anyone can find themselves requiring assistance, whether due to job loss, illness, or simply bad luck. Fortunately, there are programs in place to help those in need.
Who Qualifies for Welfare in the US?
Those with low or no income, the elderly, and the disabled are the primary recipients of government welfare. Assistance from the government can come in the form of monetary handouts, vouchers, food stamps, medical care, and even a roof over one’s head. Only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible to participate in government welfare programs.
A valid Social Security number is required when applying for welfare, and each household member must also have a valid SSN. To qualify for welfare, an individual must meet federal and state requirements. For instance, according to federal law, most legal immigrants cannot receive state aid until they have been in the country for at least five years.
The State With the Most Welfare Recipients
According to recent data, with nearly four million receiving SNAP food stamps, California is the state with the most welfare recipients. This is largely due to the state’s large population and high cost of living.
However, it is worth noting that California has relatively generous welfare benefits, which may account for some of the programs’ popularity. CalWORKs, for example, is a state program that provides short-term or long-term cash assistance to low-income families with children.
California also provides various other assistance programs, such as food stamps, housing assistance, and child care subsidies. As a result, it is not surprising that the state has a high number of welfare recipients.
Welfare benefits by state indicate that Texas has the second-highest number of SNAP recipients, with 3.4 million people receiving the benefits. Florida has nearly three million welfare recipients, followed by New York, with nearly 2.7 million people.
While the number of people receiving welfare benefits varies yearly, New Mexico currently has the highest number of welfare recipients per 100,000 population across all programs.
The Bottom Line on the US Welfare System
In 1935, the United States established its welfare system under the Social Security Act. The program was launched to help people who could not work because of age, illness, or disability, at a time otherwise known for the most severe unemployment the country has ever seen. Its scope was later expanded to include low-income families with children.
You would think social welfare programs in the United States have eradicated poverty in the country. Think again. Millions of people in the United States today live in poverty without getting welfare assistance and are subject to various forms of discrimination, including housing discrimination.
