Women and Welfare

Welfare & Women

Cindy Ballard (As told by Tracy Thompson)

A former Welfare mother with three children tells her story of how she struggled to get off Welfare. She talked about what it meant to be on Welfare, as well as the small amount of aid provided to people on Welfare. One of the biggest things she told, was how difficult it was having to live on small wages, while either not being able to work because of the children, or fear of losing the money from her Welfare check, or just the struggle of getting a job.

Legislation: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Carry-Over Funds

(http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-7530.htm)

The legislation states that in February of 2009 the president signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which lifted the restrictions on unspent federal TANF funds. By doing so this allows the funds to spend on any allowable TANF benefit, and not just for assistance. The funds that will carry over, are any amount of money left from state or tribal funds from the previous year, which will help families somewhat more than it would have in the past.

I Was a Welfare Mom vs. Legislation

The article stated that only a certain amount of money was given per month to help families living on Welfare. As with the legislation the same rule still applies, however with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more money will be available to help these families, because it will carry over the funds from the previous year. During the time that the mother of three children from the article struggled living on Welfare, this act did not exist, so she was not able to reap any of these benefits. This legislation provides assistance to families with ongoing basic need payments, and supportive services such as transportation and child care to families who are not employed, and from the mothers story, it is clear that this was not provided when she needed it.

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