1. Changes need to be made to EBT cards. You should be allowed to buy food, paper products, and child care products directly on the card... leading to...
2. NO CASH. Period.
3. Users of EBT cards should be forced to show identification to swipe said card.
4. Mandatory drug testing to receive your check, paid for by the recipient (gotta pay to play).
4a. Tests will be bought from a private firm, by the state, at massive discounts. State isn't allowed to mark them up.
5. Welfare dependent limits capped at four (which is still too high), to prevent breeding for the sake of more income.

this would be a plus.

get on it adam.

i agree with this with a father clase. no more than 2 kids to 2 different fathers or youre labled a habitual breeder. it would put negative connotation to the the word slut again.

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This is another issue I don't have much of an opinion on. I dont understand how people can breed to get more money... but not be using the money on their children. Children are expensive and Welfare does not provide enough for people to live comfortably on. If the children are remaining healthy I don't know how they (the parents) can be doing anything wrong other than not wrapping it up.

That being said, I'm sure it happens.

So I have no answer.

poppin out babies to support thier crack habit

As someone who helps people apply for benefits this whole idea nauseates me. So many people struggle to pay rent and house and feed their kids - they already have to provide documentation about everything they own and deal with smartass degrading caseworkers and you would rather dump money on drug tests when the state has year long waiting lists for medical assistance and housing assistance due to a shortage of funding? considering what a person's income has to be to be on these programs.. Yes there are cheaters. but so many people refuse to let go of their pride to get help as is, by accusing them all of being drug users you are garaunteeing that lots of needy families won't access programs that, by law, they are entitled to.

And how would you ensure chain of custody for people who are house-ridden for drug testing? Oh, sorry grandma we know your social security doesn't cover your living expenses... Just come to the office and pee in a cup so you can get your $30 a month in food stamps.

And as far as cash goes... It would have to be a damn dedicated and grounded junky to make the appointments, fill out the ongoing paperwork, and make the training or interview appointments that caseworkers sporadically give to participants. Given the hoops people jump through to get and keep assistance, at least in this county, drug users are the least of my concern as a taxpayer.

I was going to direct Jody to this, but it looks like Ann has it covered.

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I come from a welfare family, and I saw my mother abuse the system for about 17 years, and have NO sympathy for the majority of these people. There is an alternative to welfare. I, along with 88% of the adult population of America do it. It's called, "work". The general comeback to that is, "these people cannot afford child care". I believe there should be state-run child care services provided to low-income families. I also believe in being responsible enough with your genitals to not pop out a life you can't afford.

It's also interesting to note that 20% of recipients are living in rural areas. That pisses me off, because you shouldn't be allowed to take public money when you make a conscious effort to live in an area where there are obviously no jobs.

Welfare is a privilege, which is meant to be used as a LAST RESORT means of taking care of children, until you can get back on your feet... not a lifestyle choice (which in most cases, it really is). Furthermore, the hoops to be jumped through aren't enough. Yes, the income levels of people applying are low. The state doesn't account for income earned though illegal means (and yes, a large portion of those on welfare also have under-the-table jobs... not to mention the dealers who make more than I do, and still collect) The shortage of funding could be covered by kicking anyone off that has collected for over a year, serial breeders, or anyone that fails a drug test (and for the sake of this exercise, though I believe it should be legal, marijuana would get you the boot).

That same old lady gets out somehow to buy her groceries, correct? With welfare being, again, a LAST RESORT, these people are going to have to make sacrifices in order to get the help they need... or maybe food stamps for the elderly should be covered under Medicare.

As far as the cash goes, the fact remains, that I've seen people dedicated enough to get access to it. The Access card should NEVER work in an ATM as a means to get cash (in which many cases, and I've witnessed this, they'll buy booze, cigarettes, and scratch-off tickets).

THANK YOU! The amount of spouting off done by the clearly misinformed is pretty fucking sickening.
MY FAMILY ABUSED THE SYSTEM, SO CLEARLY EVERYONE DOES!!! Herp derp derp.
Fuck everyone because a few people abuse what they get! Hurr durrrr.

1) Ever since 1996, in order to receive cash you must participate in work, education, or job training program in order to maintain benefits. You can lose your benefits for non-cooperation. After 5 years, in this county (it is enforced here... not in some other counties) they will kick you off of welfare no matter what unless you have some extenuating circumstance and unless you start working at least 20 hours a week (30 hours if your kids are over 4 years of age) and are participating in work programs.
2) One in 9 Americans is on food stamps. And most studies show that one in 5 are actually eligible. So much for your 88% not using welfare systems.
2) Telling poor people they don't have the right to having a family is de facto genocide (trying to eliminate a group of people in whole or in part). And considering the history of this country which has caused disproportionate poverty among certain groups of people.. well it's both racist and sexist.
3) You can designate an authorized person to utilize your benefits for you so that people who are elderly and disabled can have family members or their home health aides use their benefits for them.
4) Almost 40% of the US population lives in rural areas. If only 20% of the welfare population is in rural areas, that means that that this population actually disproportionately does NOT access the programs that they are entitled to.
5) Food and shelter are still basic human rights. People should not have to wait until they have sold all of their belongings, have no car, no savings, no anything and live at the mercy of other people just to satisfy someone else's definition of being a deserving human being. I have to do outreach to encourage people to apply for help b/c they hear shit from people like you all the damn time and would rather have some sense of dignity and be mal-nurished than join a group that is so publicly scapegoated as derelict losers and worse.