Filing Unemployment

Filing Unemployment Since the general economy began to decline and the overall poverty level of citizens throughout the United States has increased, the number of people who are filing unemployment applications throughout the country has significantly increased.  Many people are surprised to discover that the laws related to unemployment benefits are much different than what [...]

Public Assistance Programs

Public Assistance Programs Since the Great Depression, the United States has offered several different public assistance programs aimed at different groups of people who have different problems or needs.  These programs include the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (“TANF”) program, unemployment benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP” – more commonly known by its former [...]

General Assistance

General Assistance The phrase “general assistance” can refer to a broad array of services and benefits.  For purposes of our site, we’ll focus in on general welfare and public welfare benefit payments offered through a wide variety of government-sponsored programs.  Most welfare programs in the Untied States can be traced back to the Great Depression [...]

Public Assistance

Public Assistance Public welfare and general welfare programs were rather scarce throughout the United States until the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  During, and shortly after, this period of time President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Congress passed a series of laws enacting what was known as the “New Deal.”  The New Deal legislation opened [...]

Public Aid

Public Aid The phrase “public aid” can refer to a wide variety of general welfare or public welfare programs offered throughout the United States.  Some of these programs are considered “entitlement programs” and are available automatically when individuals reach certain milestones in their lives, such as turning a certain age, while others are only available [...]

What Is SSI?

What Is SSI? Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) is a cash payment public welfare program that helps out individuals with low incomes.  The purpose of the program is to ensure that United States citizens all meet a minimum standard of living.  The program was created in 1974 and replaced a program with a similar purpose that [...]

Welfare Fraud

Welfare Fraud As the down slide of the United States economy hit during 2008 the demand on general welfare benefits significantly increased. Along with the higher welfare rolls comes increased incidents of welfare fraud. When it comes to public welfare programs, fraud comes in multiple forms, including making your household look bigger than it really [...]

Poverty Level

Poverty Level The United States Health and Human Services federal poverty level guidelines are a key indicator for determining who is eligible for a number of important general welfare programs offered throughout the country. These welfare programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) – better known as the Food Stamp program, the Temporary Assistance [...]

Food Stamp Fraud

Food Stamp Fraud As the hard economic times the United States is experiencing has spread more and more individuals have looked into how to begin receiving food stamp card benefits.  Unfortunately, along with the increased popularity of the food stamp program (which is formally known under the law as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) there [...]

Temporary Assistance For Needy Families

Temporary Assistance For Needy Families The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (“TANF”) program has been a staple of American general welfare programs for many years now.  The TANF program took the place of the longtime AFDC (“Aid to Families with Dependent Children”) public welfare program.  The purpose of the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families program [...]