Why is the gov't actively seeking new recruits for welfare?

inlet13 wrote:

...in all forms.


http://washingtonexaminer.com/feds-too-few-americans-turn-to-government-for-assistance/article/2506052#.UDvXPKNj58H

Feds: Too few Americans ‘turn to government for assistance’

More Americans rely on their families for assistance than the government, so federal officials have undertaken an effort to help people to apply for federal assistance.

“Given that only 15 percent of you turn to government assistance in tough times, we want to make sure you know about benefits that could help you,” USA.gov announced today. The ”government made easy’ website has created a “help for difficult financial times” page for people to learn more about the programs.

The government got that statistic from a poll asking Americans what helps them the most during tough times. Here are the results:

Savings 44%
Family 21%
Credit cards/loans 20%
Government assistance 15%

“Government assistance comes in different forms—from unemployment checks and food assistance to credit counseling and medical treatment,” USA.gov reminded readers.

This leg of the financial assistance push has ended. “Although our campaign to highlight Help for Difficult Financial Times has ended, we know that your struggles may continue,” said USA.gov today. “We will keep updating the tools and information we provide to help you get back on your feet.”

what is wrong with making is easier for people who need assistance to get it? Why make people jump through hoops?

Godfather. wrote:

I collected disabilty for 30 days not to long ago and office was full of what looked like con-artist, some of them (2) where straight up told that they had no money coming to them and one of the guys was there in his work uniform a city bus driver, anywat the government always made it so hard to aply any help, my aunt needed help she lost her house, job pretty much everything but her car at the time that was only about 3 years old that her son bought her, welfare told her she had nothing coming because of the value of her car, she had to sell the car in order to get help so with crap like this happening it's no wonder the other 85% would rather depend on family or other means than the government.

Godfather.

I assume by "con-artists" you mean the people applying for assistance, not the office workers themselves. Although that certainly does occur no doubt, there's also the flip side to that. In 1993 a small but extremely loud explosion of hydrogen and oxygen gasses when off near the right side of my head and caused permanent nerve damage and 24/7 tinnitus in my hearing. For years my sound tolerance was collapsed for anything over about 35dB (normal conversation is about 60 dB). It took me years of exasperating work to get a small settlement- a fraction of what I would have gotten if I'd broken or lost a limb or body part or had visibly scarring injury. Why? Because my injuries, though permanent, are invisible and difficult to measure. The same thing is true with many mental disorders- ptsd, anxiety disorder, etc.

As far as government offices go, I've dealt with them various times in three states and found that they vary greatly. This surprises me a bit because I would think they would be more uniform that way but I didn't find that to be so.

Also, it sounds like your experience would indicate that the government is not as willing to part with assistance as the OP article would suggest. Also, maybe it would be interesting to read more about this from a more neutral news source.

As for polls, if I'm not mistaken, the OP is wary of polls.

When in doubt... which I usually am because there is so much political partisanship that slants things to support their own beliefs, rather than simply looking to find the truth... I went to the source:
http://www.usa.gov/citizen/topics/family/help-for-difficult-financial-times.shtml
...
Please, decide for yourself... as an indivudually minded American that does not have his lips firmly grasped around either an elephant's or a donkey's dick.
Thank you... this has been a public service announcement.

Inlet, you're probably wondering why because you're applying free-market principles to something that doesn't necessarily fit that type of thinking. Public assistance is there to meet a need, and they are trying to remove barriers to access that need. That's it. The limits and requirements have already been set, and the person finds out if they qualify after they get to the office. You alluded in the food stamp thread that if it was more difficult and uncomfortable for people, that they would get out in the workforce sooner. I guess you're saying there's plenty of jobs to be had out there, I'm not sure. Be careful though, you wouldn't want to give a good outlook on the employment situation in the U.S.

Godfather. wrote:

I collected disabilty for 30 days not to long ago and office was full of what looked like con-artist, some of them (2) where straight up told that they had no money coming to them and one of the guys was there in his work uniform a city bus driver, anywat the government always made it so hard to aply any help, my aunt needed help she lost her house, job pretty much everything but her car at the time that was only about 3 years old that her son bought her, welfare told her she had nothing coming because of the value of her car, she had to sell the car in order to get help so with crap like this happening it's no wonder the other 85% would rather depend on family or other means than the government.

Godfather.

...
That's fine and dandy... that only 15% seek help from the government, ain't it? Some people don't have the family support system you and I have... and some have family suport... but, their relatives are as broke as they are.
As for your Aunt... what does it tell you that owning a car nullifies getting financial assistance? I mean, her having financial problems and going to the government for help means that the other 85% had failed her.
...
Finally... I cannot read minds... I cannot see into other people's lives. Maybe a guy is a bus drivers uniform is there to help out his mom with her financial assistance... maybe. I don't know what a bus driver gets paid, but it might not be enough to help his own family (wife and kids) and he doesn't have enough to help his other family members. I don't know.

unsung wrote:

Trying to get Mexican recruits too!!!

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/19/usda- ... icipation/

...
Does anyone actually fact check the things they find on the Internet?
Please, go to the source and decide for yourself.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/FactSheets/reaching.htm

I'm missing the part where they're recruiting for welfare.

I see them telling people that their tax dollars have paid for services and that they can use them should they need them... Including credit counselor and medical treatment.

How is this a bad thing?