Posted on Feb 11, 2016
WORLD | Welfare, yes; work optional | Emily Belz | Feb. 20, 2016
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The title "Welfare, yes; work optional: intrigued me. I know that New York City government has been fairly liberal of late. The Big Apple seems to be rotting from the inside. I hope and pray that most people embrace a work ethic and eschew a welfare dependence ethic.
"Two years ago, when New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Steve Banks to head the city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA), Banks joked that his HRA would be “the first one I’m not going to bring a lawsuit against.” The new mayor laughed, but nobody doubted a major philosophical change was underway at the city agency that administers public benefits."
"Banks had previously headed the Legal Aid Society for decades, where he often sued the HRA, including under predecessor Robert Doar, arguing the agency was not liberal enough with benefits. The number of New Yorkers on cash assistance month to month is now growing, even as New York City boasts an unemployment rate of 5 percent and the addition of 84,500 private sector jobs in the last year. During Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tenure, the monthly recipients of cash welfare benefits declined about 20 percent. Two years into Mayor de Blasio’s administration, the number of monthly recipients of cash assistance is up 7 percent to 371,000, a number nowhere near the 1.1 million who received cash assistance under Mayor David Dinkins in the pre–welfare reform 1990s but one that is climbing steadily. (Medicaid still far outstrips cash assistance and food stamps, or SNAP, in costs.)"
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. CH (MAJ) William Beaver CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas @SFC Joe S SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SSgt (Join to see) TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA SSgt Robert Marx SGT Forrest Stewart SrA Christopher Wright SN Greg Wright A1C (Join to see)
"Two years ago, when New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Steve Banks to head the city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA), Banks joked that his HRA would be “the first one I’m not going to bring a lawsuit against.” The new mayor laughed, but nobody doubted a major philosophical change was underway at the city agency that administers public benefits."
"Banks had previously headed the Legal Aid Society for decades, where he often sued the HRA, including under predecessor Robert Doar, arguing the agency was not liberal enough with benefits. The number of New Yorkers on cash assistance month to month is now growing, even as New York City boasts an unemployment rate of 5 percent and the addition of 84,500 private sector jobs in the last year. During Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tenure, the monthly recipients of cash welfare benefits declined about 20 percent. Two years into Mayor de Blasio’s administration, the number of monthly recipients of cash assistance is up 7 percent to 371,000, a number nowhere near the 1.1 million who received cash assistance under Mayor David Dinkins in the pre–welfare reform 1990s but one that is climbing steadily. (Medicaid still far outstrips cash assistance and food stamps, or SNAP, in costs.)"
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. CH (MAJ) William Beaver CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas @SFC Joe S SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SSgt (Join to see) TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA SSgt Robert Marx SGT Forrest Stewart SrA Christopher Wright SN Greg Wright A1C (Join to see)
WORLD | Welfare, yes; work optional | Emily Belz | Feb. 20, 2016
Posted from worldmag.com
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Posted 9 y ago
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I think that there are a number of good reasons for "work requirement" based benefits. Obviously this should not be a catch all policy - mentally ill, minors and single mothers - but able body people should work to get benefits. Develop self worth, job skills and contribute to society.
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I have always been in favor of a helping hand and not a hand out, but I also think people need to work to have a feeling of self worth. I say if a person finds them self needing food stamps and money to live off of we need to bring them in a put a plan in place to get them off welfare within 2 years. If they need training, we pay for it, if they need school we pay for it, but at the end of 2 years there is no more unless you meet certain points. You can learn to be a plumber, electrician, brick layers, tile setter, bank teller, something in the medical field, etc. We will help with rent, food, child care, etc. to help you get back on your feet.
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I think that the Clinton era change to welfare qualifications that necessitated some work in order to receive benefits plus adding a time limit for benefits proved to be a sustainable program. I do not understand why anyone would attempt to change that requirement.
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