Terrianna's Case Study

Like the previous example of our class activity, you can gather some information about the family to personally consider whether you think the people portrayed deserve help. In the opening of the book, Andrea Campbell gives us information about the couple’s job status, income, and family size, which allows the reader to make a first opinion on the family’s deservedness. Once this introduction is made, the reader can see the twists and turns that can lead a family into needing government help, which is often the part of the story that gets lost – as most assume those in poverty are there because of their own ambition or actions. The wife gets in an accident, which forces the couple to take an insurance plan from the California government that is designed to keep them in poverty by taking away their income after a set cap is reached (Campbell 2014). The book continues to take the reader through the experience of trying to survive on social insurance and means-tested programs (those where recipients must hold a job or other status to maintain benefits), and ends with three Chapters discussing the difficulties that means-tested programs create for those in poverty. By forcing the reader to, in some way, experience a very average story about surviving in poverty, the book forces the reader

David Zucchino’s captivating book, Myth of the Welfare Queen, sticks to his journalistic roots and reads like an extended news article as it captures two separate yet interconnected stories of women struggling to get by in Northern Philadelphia. Philadelphia was—and is—an impoverished city in many ways, with huge percentages of the population struggling to get by at or bellow the poverty line. Zucchino spent much of 1995 with woman and families on welfare as it was a time when welfare was a particularly hot topic directly preceding the passing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. Zucchino strove to cut through the stereotypes and misinformation surrounding welfare and those relying on it. In his own words, “this book is the story of

In her research, she spent over 600 hours in welfare offices, speaking to caseworkers, social workers, and welfare recipients and potential recipients themselves. She learned first hand how the Act affected the day to lives of poor women and their families, as well as how it affected the caseworkers who not only had to learn

On April 19, 2017 my class took part in a Poverty Simulation Experience. Before we started we were informed by Dr. Stephens, our instructor, that this was, “not a game” and to make it as realistic as possible. She also informed us that the goal during the simulated month was to “keep your home secure, make sure your family was fed, pay your bills, and meet unexpected situations.” My alter ego during this simulation was Iris Isma, a single mom with a one-year-old child and live-in boyfriend. Iris was unemployed, but has the desire to go to school. Her only income was food stamps and TANF. Isaiah Isaacson, the boyfriend, was employed and helped out with paying half the housing and Utilities. Iris had a dilemma during this scenario, to either pay the rent or feed her

Mrs. Washington and her son life in the Mott Haven housing project. She is dying of AIDS and her teenage son must tend to her health care plus his schooling. The social services which processes and sends out her welfare money, is constantly under reconstruction. Her payments are often late and numerous times she has been evicted from her apartment. Not only is eviction a problem, but so is her health care. ther have been times she has had to wait two days on a cot in the hallway until a doctor could see her. These problems start to wear down her son. As a result his school work is declining and he hardly ever smiles anymore. He is afraid to sleep in case his mother might need him or she just dies in her sleep. The Washington family is just one case from a pile of hundreds just like it. Program cutbacks effects thousands of people just like the Washington's. Without the proper

Daniel is a department of human services worker (DHS). Daniel is close friends with the Yinger family. While reviewing multiple applications at work for renewal of state aid. Daniel realizes the Yinger receives state aid. He determines the families of eight is making $50 over the maximum household monthly income. Daniel informs and questions Ms Yinger about exceeding the $50 dollar maximum household income. Ms Yinger becomes irate that Daniel was questioning the Yinger family, they are barely above the state guidelines. Ms Yinger asked the Daniel if it was fair to allow the family of eight to go without food or health insurance because the family exceeds the minimum household a lot of income by $50. Kindly, Ms Yinger questions and bribes Daniel, she will pay him $50 monthly cash to edit the household expenses and income. Ms Yinger knows that the $50 dollar cash is a smaller loss than the $800 SNAP and full coverage health insurance.

Hernandez completed an office visit to recertify for SNAP benefits for herself and two children. During the visit, Ms. Eastmond completed a Work Number search using Ms. Hernandez’s name and social security number. Upon review of the inquiry, employment and earnings were verified for Ms. Hernandez for 7-Eleven from March 28, 2012 through August 2, 2013. It was determined that she received wages on August 1, 2013 in the amount of $490.73, and on August 8, 2013 in the amount of $357.49. Her rate of pay was $9.50 per hour and her gross income was $16,155.73 in 2012, and $14,411.85 in 2013. Ms. Hernandez’s Medicaid benefit also became effective on August 1, 2013 and extended through July 31, 2014. (See Exhibit

Reynolds uses her own personal experience to help support her argument by using multiple examples of when she is at work and sees the misuse of welfare at first hand. This helps her make a connection with the audience and shows her honesty. She further argues with using a metaphor to help support her argument “if you build it, they will come” to suggest a resemblance between welfare and people, meaning if an individual were to receive welfare they will feel financially stable and therefore, never feel motivated to search the job field. These ideals not only help make a connection, but help show her authority as an educated woman who supports finding a new way to make the welfare system more manageable, free from bias, and free from injustice. Reynolds wants the reader to think about when people abuse the welfare system, in particular the food stamps, and wants them to think is it fair for a working class citizens to be required support multiple people who abuse the system that get food or items they themselves cannot possess because it is too expensive and to think about if it was fair to that child or baby that was not thought about

Christie worked in YWCA’S child care center in Akron, Ohio. She made a check of 330 every two weeks. She was on a welfare program called SNAP also known as food stamps. “SNAP is the federal government’s largest food assistance program (# 2). SNAP stands for supplement Nutrition assist program to help low-income families pay for food.”(#5) Christie received 136 of “food stamps” every month. In addition, to her every 2 week check and food stamps she received child support from one of her two children, 37.68 weekly. She had many expensive; gas, rent medical insurance, cable TV, phone bill, electricity, perception medicine, and monthly car payments. Therefore, she wasn’t able to make ends meet even with the help of welfare. Christie didn’t

When one young lady stood up as the author of “The Food Stamp Bill,” my head shot to her. What did she think of me? My family and friends? What did she think about our life support? She thought we were undeserving of name brand cereals as well as government assistance after two years. To my horror, other girls recounted stories they had seen on documentaries about Food Stamp Millionaires and drug addicts selling stamps and not feeding their children. I’m sure they didn’t understand that the woman in front of them at the grocery store may buy gluten free bread for their son with celiac disease, or that climbing the economic ladder enough to afford three meals for your family can take over two years. However, they were raised to label me as a leech on society's wallet. I raised my placard,

RT informed writer that he is frustrated about having to go to the welfare office. RT informed writer that his food stamps is good, but is not sure when he will receive public assistance. Rt also informed writer that he is not sure if his health insurance is active. RT's displayed a "giving up" attitude and writer encouraged RT to stay positive and keep moving forward. RT was receptive to

It was reported on 10/10/17 that the foster children did not have dinner. It was reported that there is no food in the home. It was disclosed to reporting party (RP) that the foster mother (FM) has 2 refrigerators; one for the foster children and the other is for FM’s family. The foster children’s refrigerator is bare and FM’s refrigerator is full. The foster children are not allowed to go into the other refrigerator. It was disclosed to RP that the FM has snack but there are no snacks for the foster children. It was also reported that there is no food in the cabinets. FC#2 reported that FM may cook 1 meal a week for the family and that FM goes grocery shopping every other week, but the food does not last. RP was told that the foster children

the unemployed mother who is receiving food stamps and monthly social security unemployment benefits as a serious problem to the welfare system. The program which

Kathy and Raymond have visits one day per week for two hours per day. Worker supervises these visits once per month. The first visit this worker will be supervising is on November 23, 2016. These visits occur at the Godfrey, Illinois McDonalds play place, but were taking place outside in the community prior to this when the weather is nicer. During the last supervised visit the case assistant observed Raymond reading the newspaper. The tried children interact with the case assistant; the case assistant redirects the children to interact with Kathy and Raymond. Johnathan spent most of the visit in the play place and Zoey spent most of the visit on the tablet. Raymond left the visit and returned 20 minutes later telling Kathy “they (the children)

Wilson gives an example of a mother in a “new poverty neighborhood” that was on welfare even though she wanted to be employed, and she says that, while she was working, she was making only $7 an hour. Since she couldn’t pay the babysitter or get medical insurance for her children, she applied for public aid, and she could not even find a job that her benefits.