Social Welfare
It is the responsibility of the government to take care of the needs of all citizens regardless of their social, racial, religious or economic backgrounds. Welfare is a type of government support for its citizens. The government implements several social welfare programmes that are designed to protect citizens from financial, health and insecurity risks. This essay will highlight some of the social welfare programmes that are already in action currently.
Medicare
Medicare is the federal government programme that provides health insurance for people above the age of 65, younger people with disabilities or people with End-Stage Renal disease, permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or transplant, (Medicare Interactive, 2019). Medicare social welfare programme has different insurance covers that cover specific situations. One an eligible candidate enrolls for Medicare; they can choose to get Medicare benefits from either Original Medicare or the traditional fee-for-service programme directly through the federal government. Part A of the Medicare insurance covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility and hospice care. Part B of Medicare includes outpatient care, medical supplies, preventive services as well as certain doctor services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that runs Medicare.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a social welfare programme created by the federal government but administered by the state government. The plan is meant to provide medical payment for medical services for low-income citizens (Division of Health Care Services, 2019). Medicaid is different from Medicare because Medicare is based on age and disability while Medicaid is based on financial status. Initially, Medicaid was meant to cover needy people such as the aged, the blind, disabled and single-parent families. At present, Medicaid is available for all people below a certain income level. Also, families with unemployed parents are eligible for Medicaid until their parents return to work. Just like Medicare, Medicaid is run by the CMS federal agency.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF is a social welfare programme designed to help needy families achieve self-efficiency. TANF is not meant to give cash handouts to needy families; rather, the plan aids the needy families whose parents are working. As such, it is a requirement by TANF that parents receiving the temporary assistance be employed in some capacity, working towards getting a job or taking classes aimed at increasing their long-term employability (Wolf, 2018). Evident from the name of the programme, it is meant to help needy families temporarily until the families achieve self-efficiency. Apart from temporary financial assistance, the TANF programme is designed to provide work opportunities so those needy families can gain independence. TANF is administered by the Office of Family assistance whereby each state has a local TANF office.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The Supplemental Security Income is a federal programme that provides monthly cash assistance to people who are disabled, elderly or has little income and few assets (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2018). The tax-funded programme benefits people who have no source of income including children and adults above the age of 65. However, the plan reduces the benefits of recipients who have other sources of income or live in a Medicaid facility or with someone who provides support. Any person who has other sources of income such as social security benefits, pensions, interest or child support is partially eligible for Supplemental Security Income. The SSI programme is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Food Stamps
Formerly known as Food Stamps, the social welfare programme currently goes by the name Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP). SNAP works in conjunction with food banks, community groups, churches and volunteer organizations, to strengthen communities by providing the fuel and nutrition people need (Feeding America, 2018). The national programme provides families with basic nutritional needs to get them through hard times. SNAP benefits are delivered monthly through electronic debit cards which are then used to purchase groceries at the authorized retailers (Feeding America, 2018). The SNAP debit cards are used to buy nutritious products such as bread, cereals, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat and other dairy products. The debit cards cannot purchase alcohol, tobacco or any non-food items. Any American citizen can apply for SNAP at their local SNAP office.
In conclusion, both the state and the federal government have worked effortlessly to ensure the welfare of American citizens. Social welfare programmes protect the needs of low-income citizens. These programmes not only provide for the basic needs of low-income people, but they also allow the people to become self-efficient and independent.
References
Feeding America. (2018). Understanding SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Retrieved May 7, 2019, from Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/advocate/federal-hunger-relief-programs/snap
Medicare Interactive. (2019). Introduction to Medicare. Retrieved May 7, 2019, from Medicare Interactive: https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-basics/medicare-overview/introduction-to-medicare
Division of Health Care Services. (2019). what is Medic Aid. Retrieved May 7, 2019, from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services:http://dhss.alaska.gov/dhcs/Pages/medicaid_medicare/default.aspx
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities . (2018, August 24). Policy Basics: Supplemental Security Income. Retrieved May 7, 2019, from Center on Budget and Policy Priorities : https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/policy-basics-supplemental-security-income
Wolf, J. (2018, November 2). How TANF Can Help Families in Need. Retrieved May 7, 2019, from Verywell Family: https://www.verywellfamily.com/tanf-grant-program-overview-2997412