Welfare Reform Is Needed in New York Essay - 1227 Words

The issues surrounding welfare and welfare reform are controversial, political, and difficult to resolve. The debate continues today as to who deserves benefits and who does not. In 1933, President Roosevelt created Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) as part of the New Deal. This early form of welfare was available to those who could demonstrate a need and the ability to maintain minimal assets of their own. It specifically targeted aid to single women with children. It was a controversial and highly debated subject. Even now, many years later, Congress continues to debate and reform welfare programs. It still brings with it the same intensity, controversy, and conflicting opinion it did years ago. Through†¦show more content†¦After a social worker scrutinizes every being of the applicant’s existence and gaining approval, the recipient of benefits has feelings of hope and relief. â€Å"It was like a life preserver saved me from drowning† (D. Sobolewski, personal communication November 30, 2011) is the way one of my employees put it. The future no longer seems so dark and hopeless anymore. This young woman is a mother of two and is single. Her current salary is nine dollars an hour. This is not a wage high enough for her to support herself; let alone two children. Sometimes I would overhear some of her phone conversations, revealing that she struggles on a daily basis to make ends meet. I fought tooth and nail with our Director of Operations for him to allow me to give her a pay increase. Her employment record was exemplary. She had earned the raise I had offered her because of her ability and her job performance. To my absolute amazement, she declined my offer to raise her salary. Her reasoning behind the raise refusal was it would hurt her more than it would help her. She explained that if she had accepted the raise she would lose out of money and benefits she was currently receiving through social services. She went on to express, that with the raise she would no longer be eligible for the benefits she was receiving. Her rent currently was at $360.00 per month through Section 8Show MoreRelatedFlat Broke with Children: Women in the Age of Welfare Reform Essay examples1127 Words   |  5 PagesChildren: Women in the Age of Welfare Reform by Sharon Hays. In the book, the author looks at the welfare reform act enacted in 1996, known as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. . She examines both the positive and negative effects that the Act has had on the poor as well as the effects it has had on society overall. 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