welfare

The current program is TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which does not provide ample benefits to put people above the poverty line (i.e., for a single person= $11,000; for a familiy of 3= $38,000). The poverty line is calculated using a terrible equation, essentially, by mutiplying a minimal subsistence diet (something you would get sick on if you lived on it for 5 years) by 3. Data has found that you actually need to multiply this number by at least 5, and probably need to adjust for a more nutritional diet, that doesn't make you ill. Also, poor people do pay taxes, at least 7% of their income goes to taxes. Everyone pays taxes. Welfare is federal aid to those that qualify, but less than half the families who qualify are given aid, even though our poverty stricken populations are increasing.