Welfare Benefit Analysis

Another issue that is greatly affected by the abused welfare programs is unemployment. The unemployment rate goes beyond the lack of available jobs in the U.S.; unemployment also falls back on the individuals without jobs. While there are many unemployed Americans who do everything in their power to find a job, there are also several who abuse the system. Heritage.org reports that of the adults reported to be using illegal drugs, a majority of the users were unemployed. As seen in Appendix 3, 17.5% of adults using illegal drugs in 2010 were also unemployed. Additionally, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, severe barriers to unemployment were experienced by substance abusing women by more than double of those who do not abuse substances. Not only would tax payers and the

In today’s America, government aid is highly depended on. The US government has spent $498 billion dollars this year on welfare alone. The state of Tennessee has an average of 250,000 residents on welfare and has $3 billion dollars this year alone. To help cut costs and help tax payers, 36 states, including Tennessee, have proposed a bill to drug test all welfare recipients. Since the beginning of the year, the welfare rate has jumped 7 percent while at the same time, the welfare funds are drying up. Tennessee funds have dropped 17.5 percent, which comes out to be about $215.3 million dollars this year. State lawmakers have proposed that if drug users on welfare are

As I worked on the controversial idea of drug testing welfare recipients, the most important thing I leaned is that Kline and colleagues surveyed substance use among a representative sample of welfare recipients in New Jersey. They found that 12 percent admitted that they used cocaine, but 25 percent tested positive for cocaine use based on hair sample analyses. Now that I know that, I can better understand the larger issue that the drug epidemic is monumental in the United States, and unfortunately we can not simply take peoples word on if they are using or

The numbers do not lie—little evidence exists that supports the claim that drug testing recipients will save money. Striving to prove that the main source of the drug problem in the United States lies in the recipients of the welfare program, policymakers continue to work fervently. The overgeneralization of the poor as drug users has become common practice in Washington. Lawmakers seem to feel that because recipients receive government funding, they in turn give up their constitutional rights as U.S. citizens. The practice of criminalizing the poor has become commonplace in the creation of U.S. governmental policy.

“Proponents of these bills believe states can save money by getting drug users who they believe spend government money on drugs, out of the welfare system”, says Jackson. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human services revealed 0.3% of their welfare recipients were indeed using drugs.

Since its conception welfare has been a source of continuous controversy. The main negative throughout the years has been that people on welfare will never attempt to find a job and just live off the government, but recently there has been a lot of attention brought specifically to the recipients that are drug abusers. Therefore, some taxpayers are calling for a system in which recipients are drug tested prior to receiving aid, but these systems are strongly opposed by those who are current members of welfare.

With a new president, and many policies and procedures changing in the government systems, it has recently been brought to many people’s attention how certain recipients in government assistance programs do not use the money correctly. As a result of that many now believe that everyone on government assistance should be drug tested. The welfare system can provide cash, food, housing, medical care, and targeted social services to poor and low income Americans (Duffy). Drug testing the recipients would ensure that no one was receiving aid that was using any type of illegal substance. This is a very controversial issue in today’s society and has both sides fighting hard for what they believe in.

Since the early War on Drugs and the welfare reform of the 1990s, those who receive public benefits have been under the microscope of drug warriors and policy makers. Those who are proponents of drug testing say that substance abuse and addiction can interfere with the ability to obtain or maintain jobs. Drug testing can help welfare recipients prepare for the job market by getting them clean and ready for the job application process (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), 2011). Drug use and abuse can also contribute to child abuse and neglect (Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 2013). Testing welfare recipients can also be cost effective, as it would prevent the misuse of public funds for the purchase

Imagine taking the money you rightfully earned through hard work and countless hours spent at work and throwing it all away, using it on items that are essentially a waste of your money and time. Suppose I told you that this very problem is present in our very own state, city, and county. Currently welfare recipients are given your tax paying money for their own pleasure, pleasure meaning drugs rather than resources and ways to improve their lives and their means of living. In efforts to help this issue we must begin testing individuals who receive welfare for drugs. Welfare recipients should be required to be drug tested because it could lower the crime rate, lowering the use of drugs overall, and create efficient government spending.

To be exact, 4.1% of the United States population is on welfare. This means that about $131.9 billion of government spending is used on welfare annually! In eight states welfare pays more than the average teacher’s salary (US Department of Health and Human Services). So really, people who are on welfare are getting more money than an average person working everyday and not receiving any help. The United States is already dealing with a very big debt problem. We should not be wasting money on those who abuse it and take it for granted. There have been some cases where people have taken the money that they receive from welfare and spend it on drugs. We could be paying off our debt but instead we are feeding into people’s drug addictions. There have not been a lot of cases where this has happened but all it takes is one person before it starts a chain reaction. It is said that more welfare recipients will use illicit drugs

The money they receive for welfare is the money that is used to buy illegal drugs while they use the public’s tax money for food and shelter (“Point: The Welfare System Should Not support Drug Users “2). To receive welfare benefits, recipients should have to pass random drug tests. Passing a drug test or a drug screening would determine whether they still qualify for the benefit of welfare. (“Drug testing Issues Emerge as States Overhaul Welfare”2). If the recipients cannot pass a random drug test, then the benefits of Welfare should be taken away from them, at least until they can pass a drug test. They should be able to stay in the Welfare system for three months. If they can eventually pass a drug test in that three month period, then they should be able to get their benefits back. People who are welfare recipients can benefit from substance abuse programs (DiLascio, M. 1). “It will take months before many of the questions being raised about coverage for alcohol and drug abusers linkages to treatment programs, and other eligibility questions begin to be resolved, analysts say” (“Drug Testing issues emerge as States Overhaul Welfare” 1). In Florida, people in TANF program had to pay for their drug test in advance. If they passed, then they would get their money back (DiLascio, M.

Consequently, many argue that requiring people that are already struggling to live and deny them aid, it would not help the drug user just the opposite. The truth is that the United States of America has a major drug problem, and if we require drug testing when applying for aid, it possibly will help the fight against drugs. By requiring welfare applicants and recipients drug testing, it would potentially give a motivation for drug users to retract and stop drug use. Applicant and recipients will worry that if they don’t pass the drug test they will not be eligible for government aid. That would motivate and get them the treatment needed to stop illegal drug use and get them on their feet. There is about 109,631,000 Americans living in households that are receiving federal welfare benefits as of the end of 2012. According to the Census Bureau that is about, 35.4 percent of all 309,467,000-people living in the United States at that time. Approximately 15 states have approved regulation regarding drug testing or screening for public assistance applicants or recipients some of the states include, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina etc. All fifty states should engage in screening for applicants and recipients in hopes of lowering misuse of benefits. Which would send a clear

In America, approximately 47% of the population is on some kind of welfare benefit program. In recent studies it was proven that people on welfare use more drugs than people who are not (Rick Scott). Most People who turn to welfare can’t afford their drugs and to take care of their children, so they sign up for Food stamps, section 8, and anything they can take from taxpayer to support their nasty habits. When children grow up in these conditions they are more prone to follow in their parents footsteps. Children are greatly affected by drug abuse especially if its their parents that are the abusers. To help these children from going down the wrong road in life is to get their parents on the right track. By helping their parents the government is going to have to pass a law saying it is mandatory to take a drug test before receiving benefits from the government so they know if the parents are in a real struggle, or are they just using the government for free

Allowing drug addicts to have welfare could possibly lead to more drug addiction.The average heroin user is going to spend anywhere from $70 – $140 per day on their addiction. When figured out for the month that cost goes to $2,100 – $4,200 per month, when figured out annually, the cost is $25,200 – $50,400 per year. (claritydetox.com) According to www.usgovernmentdebt.us/ , The United states is currently estimated at $18.628 trillion dollars in debt . We do not have the funds to spend on those who are using welfare money selfishly on drugs.The state has a responsibility , and that is to ensure that they are doing the best for their community with limited resources. According to debate.org when asked if drug testing should be required for welfare 76% said yes. when applying for a job applicants typically go through a background test , a drug test , and financial background check. So why should those individuals who are receiving the working class’s money not be required to take a drug test as well. Some critics argue that drug testing is unsuccessful and a waste of money because there are ways to work around the system. However individuals applying for a job work around the system as well , but we don’t say that it’s unnecessary. In life you have to work for what you

Public welfare is founded on the basis of helping underprivileged citizens become more self-sufficient and productive members of society. The reasons behind the criminalization of drugs support that drug screening and testing welfare applicants are indeed germane. Most states have taken an alternative approach to their drug screening and testing legislation and only drug test applicants that are suspected to be drug users. Even with the limited number of applicants that were drug tested and denied benefits the states were able to demonstrate significant cost savings. If the drug testing requirement were to be considered germane and passed through legislation, it could allow for blanket drug testing of all welfare applicants and recipients which has the potential to increase the state’s total cost savings thus allowing them to spend taxpayer’s money more