Welfare Reform

The social welfare system grew after President Lyndon Johnson introduced new public programs such as food stamps and Medicaid. When the new public programs began, almost every low income family was to receive of some public assistance (Tanner 93). The U.S. has spent more than $3.5 trillion to prevent poverty ever since the war on poverty in 1965 (Tanner 92). The welfare system has wasted a lot of money over the years. Almost everyone knows that the social welfare system has been a failure. The welfare system wastes billions of dollars each year from welfare recipients abusing the system. Some welfare recipients abuse the welfare system by illegally selling food stamps to buy cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol, having unreported income from a boyfriend or family members or through a full or part-time jobs, and subsidized housing (Payne 55). Governmental welfare needs to be eliminated or reformed due to the abuse and fraud of food stamps, public housing, and unemployment. Conversely, the welfare system helps low income families by providing food and free medical help or medical bill payments. The Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) is one of the welfare organizations that helps low-income families (Tanner 93). AFDC helps to provide food by giving food stamps to purchase food. Food stamps let welfare recipients purchase food for free or at a very low cost, which the government pays for. Also, the welfare system will provide free medical help to lower income families by free check-ups, surgeries, or medications. If a lower income family cannot pay for a medical bill, then the government will pay the bill or pay a part of it depending on the income of the family. Qualifying families that are considered to have low income can get help from the welfare system. However, the welfare system needs to either reform or change its programs starting with food stamps. The government should reform the regulations for food stamps to help stop or prevent the abuse of the