Paper Summary:

This paper argues that the United States federal government must reduce funding for social services and implement stricter guidelines for applicants in order to combat fraud in the system and to better assist the impoverished through more private programs. Next, the author outlines the history of poverty assistance programs in the United States staring with the Elizabeth Poor Law in 1647 to the over eighty poverty related programs now operated by the federal government. The paper details the ways that the present welfare system creates dependency so that recipients do not attempt to help themselves, attracts various types of fraud and causes an increase in the rate of out-of-wedlock births.

From the Paper:

"A form of fraud that has become more common in recent years is withholding important information. While possible recipients applied to receive welfare benefits, researchers have found that many recipients lied about their income, jobs, or both. An example of this fraud would be a couple in Los Angeles, CA, who collected welfare benefits in 2003. This couple claimed that they earned less than $24,000 annually. An investigation revealed that this couple owned a liquor store, a recycling business, a $76,000 car, and had $147,980 stashed in their bedroom dresser. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Axinn, June and Mark J. Stern. Social Welfare. Massachusetts: Pearson Education, Inc, 2008.
• Balkin, Karen, ed. Poverty. Michigan: Greenhaven Press, 2004.
• Boaz, David. "Time for New Thinking about Poverty." 10 Oct. 2005. Cato Institute. 09 Dec 2010 <http://http: //www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=5117>.
• Fleming, Mia. "Food Stamp Fraud on the Rise." 21 Oct. 2010. Fox 23 News. 9 Dec 2010 <http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/food-stamp-on-the-rise>.
• "Fraud Statistics." 2009. Coalition against Insurance Fraud. 12 Nov. 2010 <http://www.insurancefraud.org/medicaidfraud.htm>.

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