What percentage of recipients of aid from the program TANF are C150AASDFM's?

[J. J.]

As somebody that worked as a caseworker an innercity welfare and who had the richly earned streetname of The Devil Himself, the "Welfare Queen" sterotype was quite rare. 

The typical client was between 18-35, had one-two child, and "Daddy" was gone.  That probably counted for more than half of the clients.  Many had disabilities and could not work (they would often apply for SSI).

There were a few "professional clients" and numerous clients who got jobs and didn't report it (we'd find out through IRS records).   Here, we are talking about very low paying jobs that made them ineligible for cash.  This might, all things considered, have accounted for 10% of the recipients.

One client I interviewed was convicted of defrauding the state of over $100,000 by faking the custody of her children.   So it does happen.

[J. J.]

As somebody that worked as a caseworker an innercity welfare and who had the richly earned streetname of The Devil Himself, the "Welfare Queen" sterotype was quite rare. 

The typical client was between 18-35, had one-two child, and "Daddy" was gone.  That probably counted for more than half of the clients.  Many had disabilities and could not work (they would often apply for SSI).

There were a few "professional clients" and numerous clients who got jobs and didn't report it (we'd find out through IRS records).   Here, we are talking about very low paying jobs that made them ineligible for cash.  This might, all things considered, have accounted for 10% of the recipients.

One client I interviewed was convicted of defrauding the state of over $100,000 by faking the custody of her children.   So it does happen.

Thanks for the insight J.J.

I don't think I've ever spoken to someone who was a real welfare case worker and it's always interesting to hear from one.

I thought that obviously this thread and the other liberal LLLE thread were jokes, but I saw less evidence than I expected that people 'got it'.

I have a hard time with the stereotype.  Working in one district, that was half African American in population, for five years, the typical client was a woman, Black, with one or two children.  Welfare queens do exist, basically  a woman that will hump anything, have eight kids by seven different men, and are both too stupid and/or too lazy to work.  They are the exception, not the rule. 

The typical client basically  has one thought on her mind, "How the hell did I get myself into this situation.  I really f*@%ed up my entire life."  It's not pleasant.  Even if she doesn't hate the caseworker (and most don't) she hates the situation.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard a client say, "I never thought I'd be here."

[J. J.]

I think you raise some excellent points, J.J. The vast majority of people on welfare do not want to be there, and are highly ashamed of it. They sincerely want to get off of it. Even if it is their fault for getting themselves into the mess, they really are working to try to get out of it, and thus we most certainly should not just abandon them.

But welfare most certainly needs to be a temporary stopgap measure, and never a way of life. I supported the 1996 welfare reform for this reason; I think it was a good bill designed to curtail the abuses in the system while still keeping the basic safety net in place. At this point I would not support any further cuts.

Nym, I strongly supported the 1996 Act, and point to it as one of the accomplishments of the Clinton administration.  I actually was a caseworker  during the time the act past.

My particular point is, while there are undoubtedly people who commit welfare fraud, it is a small percentage.  Further, the stereotype of Black woman with 6 children, who does nothing but collect a check is comparatively rare, though such people do exist.  That profile does not not represent a majority of the people on welfare.

[J. J.]

I never said that the were ashamed of being poor.  They were being ashamed of the choices they made.