Due to the current economic conditions, we’re seeing an increase in the number of people on government assistance, a.k.a welfare. In a lot of cases people are actually in need of financial assistance, but it is becoming alarmingly more common to see people entirely capable of working who choose not to, and instead collect.
Welfare should be a temporary situation in someone’s life when they are experiencing the worst of the worst. Meaning, if a person loses their job, becomes sick or injured, etc; they can claim welfare until they are able to find/go back to work. It’s a sad day in the world when a student, struggling to make ends meet, cannot receive financial assistants because their parents ‘make too much money,’ but able-bodied individuals can collect welfare, just ’cause.
Welfare should not be a lifestyle choice.
More oversight is obviously needed, will cost the government more money – probably one of the reasons it has not taken place yet – but will ultimately save money in the future. Anyone who claims they have specific dietary needs, permanent mental or physical disability, or lack of work should be able to produce documentation to prove it.
In addition, it would be beneficial to have periodic, random visits to those who claim to be ‘single.’ There are many people who are ultimately screwing welfare – and themselves – by claiming to be single, but living in a home with multiple people/children. During these visits, if anyone is suspected of living at the residence, welfare should be denied.
On a side note: If you’re on welfare, there should be rules implemented about giving birth to additional children. While children are important to today’s society, it’s more important for them to be raised by responsible parents. Children raised without proper parenting often go down the wrong roads.
Having children while on welfare, knowing you cannot afford, nor support them is anything but responsible parenting, and those people really deserve to have their heads given a shake.
I also believe, without a doubt, that welfare should be limited to people who have been Canadian residents for at least one full year. There is no reason for people to move to a new country, only to collect welfare because of language barriers or whatever else. If they have not paid into our tax system, they should not receive the benefits that people are already taking advantage of.
During the time able-bodied individuals are on welfare, they should be expected – even required – to do some sort of volunteer work for 40 hours a week or legitimately looking for work. The average person working a part-time or full-time jobs works between 30 and 40 hours a week, so there is no reason for an able-bodied individual to be paid to sit at home and use the computer or watch TV all day long.
The current welfare system is easy to abuse, so people will continue to abuse it. New rules and regulations should be implemented to ensure taxpayers are not aiding these individuals unnecessarily, and those who are caught abusing the system should be forced to repay the money they have taken from the government (be it for one year, or 10) and possibly face jail time. It would definitely limit the amount of fraud, and hopefully, give people the motivation they currently lack to join the rest of us in the working world.
