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The public and the welfare reform debate
R J Blendon1, D E Altman, J Benson
1Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass, USA.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|October 1, 1995
Summary
The American public supports welfare reform with work requirements but opposes cutting benefits without providing basic support. Core beliefs shape preferences for temporary aid, shared responsibility, and concerns about welfare
Area of Science:
- Social Policy Research
- Public Opinion Analysis
- Welfare System Studies
Background:
- Understanding public sentiment is crucial for effective welfare reform.
- Low-income families and children are significantly impacted by welfare policies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify core public beliefs and policy preferences regarding welfare system changes.
- To understand public support for aiding low-income families.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 19 nationwide telephone and in-person surveys of adults.
- Data collected through at-home interviews between 1937 and February 1995.
- Surveys involved 1000–2000 adults each.
Main Results:
- Public supports welfare reform measures like time limits and work requirements.
- Public is reluctant to cut benefits without ensuring basic support.
- Five key beliefs identified: welfare's negative impact on work/family, temporary aid preference, excessive spending concerns, shared responsibility (economic opportunity and personal), and a minimum standard of living.
Conclusions:
- Welfare reform debate outcomes will significantly affect children in poverty.
- Public support for specific welfare reform measures remains uncertain.
- The Medicaid program's future may depend on state-level decisions within the welfare reform context.