The federal government provides a variety of programs aimed at increasing the standard of living of needy individuals and families. Any government program that provides aid or income to people in need can be considered a welfare program. Welfare programs provide a variety of benefits such as income payments and access to nutrition and medical care.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a welfare program that provides income assistance to low income families. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the goals of TANF are to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancy, encourage two-parent families and enable families to take care of children in their own homes. The federal government provides funds for TANF to the states but not directly to citizens; each state has its own rules for giving out TANF funds.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income is a government program designed to help low-income disabled, blind and aged people meet basic housing clothing and nutrition needs. The Social Security Administration states that you must be disabled, aged 65 or older or blind to receive SSI. To qualify as disabled you must have a physical or mental impairment that results in severe functional limitations that is expected to last at least 12 months.
Food Stamps
Food stamps are vouchers provided by the government that allow needy families to purchase food. Food stamps are only available to those with low financial resources; the SSA states that you must typically have under $2,000 of resources to get food stamps or $3,000 if you are age 60 or older or disabled. Food stamp applications can be found at any Social Security office. The SSA says that resources you receive from TANF and SSI are not counted in determining eligibility for food stamps.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program that provides health care coverage for low-income children, aged, blind and disabled people. Medicaid can allow needy children to see doctors for health problems without parents having to worry about paying high health costs. According to the SSA, many states use the same eligibility requirements that apply to SSI to determine eligibility for Medicaid.
References
- Cornell: Welfare Law: An Overview
- Social Security Administration: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Social Security Administration: Food Stamp Facts
- Social Security Administration: Medicaid Information
- Department of Health and Human Services. "U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines Used to Determine Financial Eligibility for Certain Federal Programs." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- USDA. "Exploring the Causes of State Variation in SNAP Administrative Costs." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Illinois Department of Human Services. "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Medicare.gov. "What's Medicare?" Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Health and Human Services. "TANF: Total Number of Recipients Fiscal Year 2019." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Health and Human Services. "TANF: Total Number of Adult Recipients Fiscal Year 2019." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Health and Human Services. "TANF: Total Number of Child Recipients Fiscal Year 2019." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Chart Book: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Josh Levin. "The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth.” Little Brown and Company, 2019. Accessed April 20, 2020.
- The Presidency Project. "Radio Address to the Nation on National Security and Administration Goals." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Congressional Research Service. “The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Legislative History.” Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Medicaid. "October 2019 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- The Kaiser Family Foundation. "Births Financed by Medicaid." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. "Medicaid Enrollment Changes Following the ACA." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- USDA. "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation and Costs." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- USDA. "WIC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- USDA. "National School Lunch Program." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Social Security Administration. "Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Social Security Administration. "SSI Monthly Statistics, November 2019." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Social Security Administration. "Table 2. Recipients, by Eligibility Category and Age, November 2018 - November 2019." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- IRS. "Earned Income Tax Credit Income Limits and Maximum Credit Amounts." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Policy Basics: The Earned Income Tax Credit." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Rental Assistance." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Public Housing." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher Program." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Department of Health and Human Services. "LIHEAP and WAP Funding." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Rasmussen Reports. "Americans Say Too Many Rely on Government Aid." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Mother Jones. "Mitt Romney on Obama Voters." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Vox. "Why So Many People Who Need the Government Hate It." Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Tax Foundation. "Which States Rely the Most on Federal Aid?" Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Congressional Research Service. "Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Public Assistance: Policy Overview," Appendix A. Accessed April 20, 2020.
- Kaiser Health News. "Medicaid Helps Hospitals Pay For Illegal Immigrants’ Care." Accessed April 20, 2020.
Writer Bio
Gregory Hamel has been a writer since September 2008 and has also authored three novels. He has a Bachelor of Arts in economics from St. Olaf College. Hamel maintains a blog focused on massive open online courses and computer programming.