What’s the welfare system like in America?

[Toastandcrumpets]

I have been watching Maid, and just wondering what it is really like for lone parents, people with disabilities, and so on.

Is there social housing, access to benefits, and so on?

It depends on the state - they all have different systems in place. There is social housing - their equivalent of a council estate is called a housing project.

They also have Medicare (for pensioners and those with disabilities) and Medicaid (for those who are low income).

Additionally they have Social Security - which is pensions and disability benefits, and unemployment benefits, but these vary wildly by state.

I live in the US, but have never had to use the benefits system, so I'm not an expert by any means.

Unemployment benefits by state here: worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/unemployment-benefits-by-state

As you can see, it's difficult to generalize all of America because it's so huge and varied. It helps in some ways to think of it more like Europe.

Thanks, that’s a really good point about thinking of it as Europe!

Good explanation, and nice to see you, @allfurcoatnoknickers.

There is also TANF

www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/temporary-assistance-needy-families-tanf

Food benefits

www.usa.gov/food-help

and supplemental security income

www.ssa.gov/ssi/

The US is not a welfare state in the sense that Europeans would expect, but it's not the dystopian state that some people think it is.

Very hard to generalize because many benefits are state level. I've never personally claimed so I only know what I know from DH's relatives who are supported by benefits.

My SIL is on a very low income. She received WIC/SNAP to supplement food and her and her 2 kids receive Medicaid. She's not eligible for unemployment benefit in my state as she's been out of work too long. She gets a fair few tax credits, despite paying very minimal taxes.

My DH's Aunt is on disability. She gets Medicare, SSI from the federal government and I think some state disbility payment. She also receives her husband's pension.

In both cases, they only really have a roof over their heads because my in-laws prop them up. Section 8 housing may be an option but it's pretty terrible- UK council properties are a lot nicer. There are also more low rent housing options available in general, but often people receiving welfare don't pass the credit checks required and are being exploited by rogue landlords.

I live in Massachusetts and the welfare system is excellent. My patients on low income will have all their dental needs paid for, including complex dental work. They also receive money for food. Even us as a high income family get child benefit of several hundred a month. There is also talk about making public transport free for all in Boston. The healthcare is excellent as well. Schools are also very very good.

@MissConductUS Hiiii! Good to see you too.

Thought I'd get in here quick before people start screaming that it's a Mad Max style nightmare and hospitals just shoot poor people .

@Peridotty, I'm in New York and it's similar here, except for the dental benefits. Healthcare is also very good here, it's easy to get appointments and we have world-class hospitals. The medical practice I see has over 200 MDs, urgent care clinics, their own lab and imaging facilities, and an outpatient surgery center.

Is it allowed to say something nice about healthcare in the US on MN?

Well done, @allfurcoatnoknickers.

I live in Georgia. There are different kinds of welfare, depending on the circumstances.
For parent/s of children under 12 with low incomes: WIC aka food stamps, Peachcare (free medical and dental for kids including all vaccinations) Section 8 housing (waiting list for that of about 12 months)
For able-bodied adults: Unemployment insurance (if they have lost their employment) lasts about 14 months.
For elderly (over 62) or adults with handicaps: Medicare or medicaid,
SSI (sort of a government pension) and they are allowed to have any private pensions or annuities or inheritances without penalties. Also Section 8 housing.

We lived in California, Very low income get Medi-Cal for medical cover WIC (women infants and Children) coupons for food and formula for babies and toddlers. And Food stamps, it used to be actual coupon books but people swapped them for all sorts so now it looks like a debit card and only allows food and other certain items to be bought, no cigarettes or alcohol etc.
Benefits in California used to have a lifetime maximum attached I used to wonder what would happen if they reached their limit.
For hospital care they used the county hospital There is some Section 8 housing which is dire.
SSI is paid from wages, it's for your old age pension, what you get is based on what you paid in, high earners get more, You have to have paid in 10 years to get anything, they base it on quarters. Low earring spouses who are eligible get 1/2 the value of their higher earring spouse, instead of their very small amount. .
Annual taxes are based on the household income and there are lots of deductions (like each child, plus personal allowances) that are taken off your pre tax earnings, so it brings down your tax bill.

earring? Auto corrected from Earning

Yes there's help but as others have said it varies and you need to fit the criteria of the programme. Housing is the hardest to get help with. When I lived there my kids got free healthcare because we earned under $50k and we got WIC which was coupons for eggs, milk, cheese and various other foods. The threshold was set by the average income for the county you lived in and mine had one of the highest averages in the USA hence getting benefits on $46k. We also got benefits for my dd who has autism at a far higher level than we got when we returned. Once your children turned 5 you couldn't get wic though

SSI is paid from wages, it's for your old age pension, what you get is based on what you paid in, high earners get more, You have to have paid in 10 years to get anything, they base it on quarters. Low earring spouses who are eligible get 1/2 the value of their higher earring spouse, instead of their very small amount.

This is correct, but you're referring to social security retirement benefits. SSI is something different. From the link I posted above:

What is Supplemental Security Income?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes):

• It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and
• It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

SSI Sorry SS for retirement benefits

@allfurcoatnoknickers thanks for the link! I am not surprised Massachusetts is number one! Unemployment benefits are over $800 a month which is over £600 a month. That’s really good.

@MissConductUS omg I LOVE the healthcare system here. I can see world class doctors in no time at all. Insurance pays most of it or all of it. It’s so luxurious. I gave birth and only paid $500 for by three days of hospital stay with fabulous meals and absolutely amazing care. Private rooms, private birthing suites, anaesthetists and nurses at your beck and call, consultant doctor delivering baby. It was amazing.

Maternity leave is very short

@bluejelly There isn't any federally mandated maternity leave, but my company offers 6 months with your job guaranteed.

You get 8 weeks full pay, which is low for a professional job (most professional places do 12-16 weeks), then after that NY has an equivalent of SMP which is on a sliding scale. I got the max which was about $700 a week I think? My memories are hazy.

DH works for a mega bank and gets 4 weeks paternity leave at full pay, and he was encouraged to take it.

@bluejelly in my state women must take 3 months off work after giving birth. A lot of employers will give 6 months on full pay. My husbands company gave him 9 months of paternity leave on full pay and I got one year of maternity leave.

@Peridotty I also LOVE the healthcare system here. I have gold plated insurance through work, but I've had so many health issues solved by moving to the US and getting some proper medical care

I can also book doctor's appointments on an app and message with my PCP through the same app. I can also get seen immediately at Urgent Care if I have something urgent but not bad enough to need the ER.

I'm always a bit horrified when I read threads on here about people not being able to see a GP ever.

@allfurcoatnoknickers totally agree with everything you say! I look back at the NHS in horror now... I used to work in the NHS too and it was a REALLY TOUGH JOB. Everyone was overworked, underpaid, grumpy and the waiting lists were LONG!!! Like you, I don't have to wait for any appointments, I can see a doctor almost immediately, I can get any vaccines I want for free (e.g. chickenpox vaccine for my kid is free, I can get the HPV for free instead of having to pay in the NHS). My sister has recurring ENT issues and it took her TWO YEARS on the waiting list before she was able to get an MRI scan, only to be told there was nothing wrong and to be discharged.

This thread is going to get taken down, I just know it.

[quote Peridotty]@bluejelly in my state women must take 3 months off work after giving birth. A lot of employers will give 6 months on full pay. My husbands company gave him 9 months of paternity leave on full pay and I got one year of maternity leave.[/quote]
That sounds better than some. My friend only got 6 weeks.

Read Tightrope by NY Times reporter Nicholas Kristof

@Avarua

Read Tightrope by NY Times reporter Nicholas Kristof

It's an eye opening read and I'm a big Kristof fan, but that's sort of like saying to understand the issues with the NHS you should read a book about a health problems on a sink estate in Grimsby.

Do people still go bankrupt in the US because they can't afford to pay for their healthcare?