 Public assistance and welfare services, including:  Temporary assistance for needy families  Medical assistance  Maternal and child health services  Child support enforcement  Family and child welfare services  Food stamps  Energy assistance

Welfare Statistics Total number of Americans on welfare12,800,000 Total number of Americans on food stampsfood stamps46,700,000 Total number of Americans on unemployment insuranceunemployment5,600,000 Percent of the US population on welfare4.1 % Total government spending on welfare annually (not including food stamps or unemployment)$131.9 billion Welfare Demographics Percent of recipients who are white38.8 % Percent of recipients who are black39.8 % Percent of recipients who are Hispanic15.7 % Percent of recipients who are Asian2.4 % Percent of recipients who are Other3.3 % Welfare Statistics Total amount of money you can make monthly and still receive Welfare$1000 Total Number of U.S. States where Welfare pays more than an $8 per hour job39 Number of U.S. States where Welfare pays more than a $12 per hour job6 Number of U.S. States where Welfare pays more than the average salary of a U.S. Teacher8 Average Time on AFCD (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) Time on AFDCPercent of Recipients Less than 7 months19% 7 to 12 months15.2% 1 to 2 years19.3% 2 to 5 years26.9% Over 5 years19.6% Top 10 Hourly Wage Equivalent Welfare States in U.S. StateHourly Wage Equivalent Hawaii$17.50 Alaska$15.48 Massachusetts$14.66 Connecticut$14.23 Washington, D.C.$13.99 New York$13.13 New Jersey$12.55 Rhode Island$12.55 California$11.59 Virginia$11.11

 War on Poverty failed to reduce the causes of poverty, hurting many of the people it intended to help.  The welfare reform of 1996 transformed one welfare program, however, 70 other federal means-tested programs are in need of reform.  Marriage remains America’s strongest anti-poverty weapon, yet it continues to decline.  Single parents with children poverty rate in the US in 2008 was 36.5%.  Married couples with children poverty rate in the US in 2008 was 6.4%.

 Population growth, due to the faster growth of communities of color, and its accompanying employment growth improves Social Security’s long-term financial outlook.  Raising wage growth by raising wages among communities of color brightens Social Security’s long-term outlook.  Lowering disability incidences, which are especially prevalent among communities of color, would improve Social Security’s finances.  Lowering disability incidences, which are especially prevalent among communities of color, would improve Social Security’s finances.  Conservative attacks pose the most serious threat to Social Security.