The urban myth of welfare queens is just that.
First of all, TANF only pays 90% of the federal poverty line (food stamps, Medicaid, and Section 8 Housing are supposed to make up the difference). Second, the increase in grant amount stops at the 3rd kid - dropping more gets you no additional money and uses up more of what you get for free. At one time there was "Work to Welfare" that made you go to job training and when your youngest started school you had to look for work - at least one interview per week. Folks started interviewing for jobs they were obviously under-qualified for, as well as an industry of those who would sign off on the intereview card for a dollar or two without ever intending to hire anybody. The program ended when someone finally realized it was not producing the desired results - perhaps the only example of a federal program doing so.
It is too bad that there are no longer "welfare/man in the home" checks allowed - while by far not my favorite activity there were a few incidents that gained widespread noteriety when the welfare recipient was prosecuted for welfare fraud. Maybe the best was the young lady who met us at the door wearing nothing but a scowl and told us to come back in half an hour because she and her visitor would have to start all over again. She was busted because we found two of his shirts hanging in the closet.
Those folks getting welfare and driving around in this year's Caddilac land yacht are obviously not playing by the rules. It just seems nobody cares any more.
stay safe.
