The five-year limit set on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF) is a good idea. It has led to the drastic reduction in the dependence on welfare. This is because the recipients feel the obligation to work when they no longer qualify for assistance. The time limit set cushions persons who are temporarily out of work due to health constraints and unexpected conditions such as injuries. It also gives people who have lost their jobs enough time to search for new employment opportunities. The time limit should be adjusted downward to discourage those who can work but still are unwilling due to their dependence on the system. This will further strengthen work ethic in people and minimize the budgetary allocation for welfare. Removing time limits would automatically increase the number of individuals requesting aid from the government (Santiago, 2015).
The number of beneficiaries of TANF reduced significantly after the first five-year limit elapsed. A large percentage of this people got into long term employment because the economy was more favorable at the time. Those who got jobs that paid them wages above the stipulated minimum, no longer needed TANF as their salaries sustained them. Though not all these people got jobs that could fully support them, the transitional assistance programs helped them supplement their income. This included the use of food stamps, Medicaid, and child care. Most families now relied on this support systems heavily with some entirely surviving on them for food and healthcare (Pohlman & Wisconsin, 2015).
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Unfortunately, even with the much assistance and employment, some families still lived in poor conditions. A smaller percentage of beneficiaries of TANF became ineligible for aid after the five years elapsed. They were automatically removed from the system and help was stopped. A small part of the beneficiaries continued to benefit from TANF because of the exceptions that permitted them to exceed the time limit (Pohlman & Wisconsin, 2015).
References
Pohlman, J., & Wisconsin. (2015). TANF and welfare reform. Madison, Wis. : Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau Press.
Santiago, P. (2015). Temporary assistance for needy families: Provisions and policy options. New York: Novinka Press.
