Getting a Job or Staying on Welfare-Which one is More Affordable in South Carolina?
Introduction

Republicans and Democrats do not quite agree on a lot of things, but one of the points that they agree on is that welfare does not work. Democrats are worried that welfare reaches only a few families that need it, whereas the Republicans are concerned that the benefits of welfare create dependence. The truth is that both of them are right.

The main financial aid program in America, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, helped 86 percent of the low-income households back in 1996. Currently, only 23 percent of needy families get help (Hamilton). For the recipients of welfare, the road to self-dependence entails securing employment. In the last four years, several states have tried out work requirements and incentives for the recipients of welfare, under federal government waivers. This paper argues that an individual should concentrate on getting employed instead of staying on welfare. This argument will proceed by making points for both sides and then coming to a conclusion.

Background: Welfare in South Carolina

South Carolina consumed approximately 163 million dollars in state and federal funds in 2017 under TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program. It used 38% of these moneys on essential activities that include child care, basic help, and supports and work activities. In the same year, South Carolina was also ranked at position 36 amid states as well as the District of Colombia for percentage of TANF moneys used on essential activities (“South Carolina TANF Spending”).

There is a continuous drop in the figure of South Carolina residents receiving public aid. 22,548 South Carolinians got TANF benefits in August 2017, which is the least since prior to 2007. The figure of TANF beneficiaries climaxed in October 2010 to 53,438. Ever since that time, there has been a 58% drop in the caseload. About 79% of TANF beneficiaries are kids below 18 years of age. South Carolina’s TANF program income threshold is roughly 50% of the FPL (federal poverty level) (“TANF”). The average TANF grant awarded to beneficiaries per month is $207 in South Carolina (“TANF”).

From the above statistics, it is necessary to investigate the reasons as to why the residents of South Carolina ought to consider getting employed instead of depending on welfare.

Argument for getting a job

It is worth securing a job instead of remaining on welfare given that there are certain flaws in the welfare system that the benefits decrease as the receiver’s earnings increases. As a family’s wages gets closer to the poverty line and even surpasses it, households on some welfare programs could actually face real marginal taxes of about 50% or 60% (Dorfman). This implies that the tax combination payable on new wages as well as lost benefits as a result of the increasing wages causes the household to lose about 50 – 60% of the initial earnings gain back to the federal government.

The most obvious benefit of securing employment is the cash that is associated with it. This may seem obvious, but do not underrate the having a steady income flow. Weekly wages do not just cater for rate and other expenditures today; they are in fact the best way of ensuring that you are covered for tomorrow. Just in case you are not able to get work, the state provides you with some money for meeting your basic needs via payments for jobseekers (SpunOut). These payments are, however, low in comparison to what you would have made from a job. This is particularly true for the young individuals, given that you receive a much lower welfare rate if you are below 26 years of age. In case you are offered employment but are not quite sure if the salary is better than what you receive from welfare, you could make use of the Benefit of Work ready reckoner (MaNamara). It works by calculating for you in-work benefits and taxes and then compares the salary you would...…earnings of the entry-level employees, the government does not have the capacity to do that. Attempts to force increase in wages such as the increase in minimum wage, mainly lead to fewer jobs.

Counter-argument to welfare support arguments

First and foremost, welfare can be described as the classic tale of giving an individual fish and not teaching them how to actually fish. The issue is not the lack or shortage of programs of job training, but instead the fact that such programs fail to assist individuals. According to a research for ProPublica, individuals that lost their former jobs and took part in federal training programs were less probable of getting employed later on compared to those that lost their initial jobs and did not get any training (ProPublica). The job training programs made individuals worse off rather than improving them. If we wish to remove people from welfare, we should figure out better ways of improving their employability, expertise, as well as earning potential. Presently, the government is not capable of teaching anyone how to find fish, let alone catching one.

Conclusion

Low-income households in South Carolina, whether the family has a single or both parents, might be eligible for welfare services. Households registered in the program are provided job training and placement, childcare together with transport while in job training, and s stipend payable monthly, all intended to help the parents get employed and maintain self-dependence. Every household is allocated a caseworker, who offers valuations to gauge if more services or screenings are needed, and works with the household to come up with a plan that ensures financial stability of the family within two years. Most American citizens consider it just and fair for the government to offer a social safety net to those individuals who find themselves facing financial struggles. Nonetheless, most individuals are not in support of a safety net that traps its beneficiaries in the system, prevents them from becoming self-dependent, and makes them more and more financially weak.

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