Welfare State in the United States: Dependency and Reform

Introduction

From a humanitarian perspective, it is reasonable to suggest that no one wants to deny those who are truly in need the basic requirements for living. Some observers, however, maintain that many of the welfare and other entitlement programs in place for these purposes contribute to an increased dependency on welfare assistance as a permanent way of life, rather than as a temporary measure designed to help people through times of trouble. To determine what the current state of affairs is in the United States concerning the growing welfare state, this paper provides a review of relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature, followed by a summary of the research and its key findings in the conclusion.

The Scope of Welfare Dependency in the United States

While virtually anyone can find themselves between jobs and in need of governmental assistance to help them through tough times, some people become trapped in a vicious cycle of depending on welfare assistance to the exclusion of all other opportunities. Today, single mothers represent an inordinately high percentage of current welfare recipients in the United States, and many of these single mothers began having children when they were teenagers.

In fact, more than 50% of all welfare recipients in the United States were teenagers when they had their first child. Consequently, more than 50% of the national Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) budget is devoted to providing public assistance for families headed by teenage mothers. As concerning as these statistics are, the fact is that they have been worsening over time: unmarried teenage parenthood has been increasing in recent years, suggesting that these figures will continue to grow.

According to Olsen (2007), "The U.S. welfare state has often been characterized as rudimentary. It is the quintessential liberal 'social safety net,' providing a relatively restricted range of social protections and services, meager income benefits, and few programs as a right of citizenship or residence." The nature of the welfare state that has developed in the United States over the years reflects a social commitment to a restricted conception of equal opportunity — what Olsen describes as "a negative expression of liberty — freedom from the state — and limited government" — which translates into increased poverty levels and a diminished middle class.

The Cycle of Welfare Dependency

In the Land of Opportunity, many people might be tempted to argue that anyone can overcome whatever constraints and obstacles stand in the way of becoming self-reliant and self-sufficient. The harsh reality for many welfare recipients, however, is that they become trapped in a situation where it is easier and more economically worthwhile to remain on welfare than to undergo training or complete their education in order to gain meaningful employment.

The concept of welfare dependency relates to the longstanding argument in the United States that, once provided with welfare assistance, recipients will simply stop searching for meaningful employment and remain on government support indefinitely. As a result, the provision of long-term welfare has often been conceptualized as weakening the moral fiber of recipients while doing little to help them in substantive ways.

Although the vast majority of Americans continue to make their own way in the world through their own efforts and wherewithal, the option of doing whatever is necessary to qualify for welfare assistance — including remaining a single mother — remains available for those who lack the ability or desire to become self-reliant. Because the amount of welfare benefits paid to recipients is directly tied to the number of dependent children involved, single mothers may find it in their best financial interests to continue having children outside of marriage. This is not to say that only single, unwed mothers are part of the welfare dependency cycle, but rather that the same forces keeping others reliant on government assistance are simply more pronounced among this segment of the population.

Conclusion

The research showed that the United States is a generous country and a wide range of programs are available to help people who are down on their luck. Indeed, a security web of social support programs provides assistance for Americans from cradle to grave. Although these programs are intended to be short-term solutions for temporary problems, many people find themselves caught in a cycle of depending on welfare rather than making the effort to secure the training and education needed to gain meaningful employment and become self-reliant.