Welfare Facts
Throughout the United States there is an abundance of general welfare programs available to individuals who have various needs. These programs range from unemployment benefits to WIC program payments and care, to TANF payments (formerly known as the AFDC program) to many benefits provided by the Social Security Administration (“Soc Sec”). Each of these programs, along with their welfare facts will be discussed below.
The WIC welfare program (it’s actual legal name is the “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children”) is a federally-funded and specifically designed to assist women who are the mothers to infants and young children. To qualify for the program you need to show that you have a child or children under the age of 5 and that you have a very low income – less than 185% of the United States poverty income standard. For those who qualify they will receive both financial assistance, educational courses on nutrition and breastfeeding and basic staple foods, such as milk, cheese, cereal, eggs and more.
TANF Program
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”) program was the successor to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (“AFDC”) program and was signed into law in 1997. The TANF program offers cash payments to people who have children and have an ultra-low income in their household. This program is administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Once you become eligible for TANF payments you will receive them for up to 60 months. The goal is to reduce the overall poverty rate throughout the United States through the financial assistance provided in this program. One of the welfare facts of this program is the increase in the national poverty rate since the program began. In 1997 the national poverty rate was 10.3%. As of the end of 2009, that rate has significantly increased to 11.1%.
Social Security Administration Benefits
The Social Security Administration was created under the Social Security Act of 1935 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” legislation. The Administration provides an array of general welfare benefits including retirement payments, disability income payments and Supplemental Security Income. Depending on your welfare definition, the retirement benefits can be viewed as a form of welfare. The welfare facts show that over 54 million individuals receive Soc Sec retirement payments every month.
The disability program is also quite expansive. Millions of people use this program to keep some type of an income after losing the ability to work due to a legitimate physical or mental disability. You must meet a strict set of requirements to begin receiving disability benefits. For those who do qualify, the payment of disability benefits automatically turns into retirement benefits when the individual turns the minimal age set by law to earn retirement benefits.
Other Welfare Programs
Beyond these programs discussed above, there are additional programs that have an expansive effect on the welfare facts and statistics of the Untied States. One example is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”), which is more popularly known as the “Food Stamp” program. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the other programs described above help ensure that millions of Americans meet a minimal standard of living and avoid serious poverty.
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