Define Welfare Benefits
Welfare benefits are government-regulated assistance programs that provide cash, food, medical care or other benefits to people who meet established eligibility requirements. Most welfare programs are entitlement programs, meaning that, so long as a person meets eligibility guidelines, she cannot be denied benefits. Most welfare programs in the U.S. originate at the federal level and are administered locally by states through federal block grants.
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History
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The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was the most comprehensive welfare reform legislation enacted since Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs of the 1930s. A cornerstone of the Republicans' Contract with America, the bill was introduced by Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL) and signed by President Bill Clinton in August, who fulfilled his campaign pledge to "end welfare as we know it." The major thrust of the bill was to establish federal guidelines by which states would have to abide to qualify for federal block grant money. Work, education and training standards were established and limits set to encourage welfare recipients to eventually wean themselves from public assistance.
TANF
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was part of the 1996 welfare reform bill and replaced the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program established in 1935 under Roosevelt. TANF initiatives also replaced the JOBS (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training) program. Operating under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, TANF provides states with federal monies to establish their own assistance programs, with guidelines that promote ideas of time-limited assistance and work, responsibility and self-sufficiency. Eligibility criteria vary among states but must meet minimum federal guidelines. For example, the Florida monthly income maximum for a family of four is $3,675, based on Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines.
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SNAP
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SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp program. It's part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides funds to states for food assistance to needy families. SNAP has established income, residency and other requirements. For example, a threshold of 130 percent or less of the FPL guidelines -- about $2,389 per month for a family of four in most states -- is set by SNAP.
LIHEAP
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LIHEAP is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and helps low-income families, seniors and disabled people pay heating (and sometimes cooling) bills. This U.S. DHHS program helps more than five million U.S. households a year, with two-thirds of families earning less than $8,000 annually. Operated jointly with states, LIHEAP helps people pay their bills, pays for weatherization and energy-related home repairs, and provides cash assistance in energy crises, such as a broken boiler or a shut-off notice from a utility company. Again, minimum income guidelines must be met.
Medicaid
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Medicaid is a health care program for low-income, elderly and other needy people. It's part of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is funded jointly by state and federal funds. Most states use federal Supplemental Security Income guidelines to determine eligibility for applicants. Other states have their own guidelines. Common eligibility standards include having been eligible for SSI assistance for at least one month, being disabled, meeting income resources tests, needing Medicaid in order to work, and having a gross income that's insufficient to replace SSI, Medicaid and any other public assistance.
Others
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There are literally hundreds of federal, state and local programs designed to provide welfare benefits for qualified applicants. Other agencies, such as churches and community agencies, offer similar aid. Housing assistance, such as through HUD and FHA loans, unemployment benefits and substance abuse services are just a few examples of other types of welfare programs.
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