Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sat Apr 21, 2012, 07:50 AM Apr 2012

This Week in Poverty: Georgia Tries to Get to Zero Welfare Recipients

http://www.thenation.com/blog/167487/week-poverty-georgia-tries-get-zero-welfare-recipients


t’s not easy for poor people to get cash assistance in America.

Prior to welfare reform in 1996, 68 of every 100 poor families with children received cash assistance through Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). But by 2010, under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program which replaced AFDC, just 27 of every 100 poor families received benefits. The rolls shrunk as states were given wide discretion over eligibility, benefit levels, time limits, and how to use their TANF block grants which were frozen at 1996 funding levels and not indexed for inflation.

Georgia is known as a particularly difficult state when it comes to accessing TANF. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), in 2008-09 for every 100 poor families with children in Georgia, only eight received cash aid.

Now the state is set to make its TANF application process even more onerous.

On Monday, Republican Governor Nathan Deal signed a law requiring that people approved for TANF receive a drug test within forty-eight hours. They also have to pay a $17 fee for the test and it isn’t refunded, even if a person passes. In addition to the financial burden, forty-eight hours can be tough for someone who may need to arrange for childcare, or find transportation to a testing site.
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This Week in Poverty: Georgia Tries to Get to Zero Welfare Recipients (Original Post) xchrom Apr 2012 OP
I live here - no surprise wilt the stilt Apr 2012 #1
For 3 years, I was an unemployed single mom with no health insurance (lost my job in the recession) CottonBear Apr 2012 #2
Nathan Deal And The GOP Have the Heart Of Pol Pot TheMastersNemesis Apr 2012 #3

CottonBear

(21,596 posts)
2. For 3 years, I was an unemployed single mom with no health insurance (lost my job in the recession)
Sat Apr 21, 2012, 07:59 AM
Apr 2012

and I NEVER qualified for TANF or childcare assistance in Georgia. I did receive unemployment insurance benefits. After that ran out (I was a 99er), I applied for TANF and was rejected several times. You have to have ABSOLUTELY nothing and then you have to find a job (WTF! I was applying because could not get even a minimum wage job) and then you also have to go to lots of classes on how to get a job. How the hell a single mom can do that is beyond me since there is no childcare assistance?

FU Nathan Deal.

 

TheMastersNemesis

(10,602 posts)
3. Nathan Deal And The GOP Have the Heart Of Pol Pot
Sat Apr 21, 2012, 08:11 AM
Apr 2012

I used to work for a program called the Work Incentive Program that used to really help welfare clients. The GOP with the help of dumb ass Clinton killed not only WIN but AFDC. I decided to retire rather than work with Adams County in Colorado because TANF was no more than a starve women and children children program.

Adams County republicans are the biggest slime balls in Colorado. I guess all republicans are.

I see now that Georgia is even worse.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»This Week in Poverty: Geo...