What is your country's social welfare system like? (tax, to live)

[theunbrainwashed]

When I say poor, I mean people poor enough to qualify for foodstamps and housing benefit, not working poor. This topic is on the welfare system, and we take care of our poor better than all countries outside of the West and Japan.

[irish_bob]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

When I say poor, I mean people poor enough to qualify for foodstamps and housing benefit, not working poor. This topic is on the welfare system, and we take care of our poor better than all countries outside of the West and Japan.

wellfare in america is by far the lowest of the rich countries

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by dragonborn

There are many working poor who are not eligible for Medicaid. Qualifying for Medicaid isn't always assured.

More than 26,000 uninsured Americans die prematurely every year: study

People are still dying because of lack of / no healthcare. There's no excuse for this in a developed country.

To qualify for Medicaid one has to be extremely poor not just poor. Any one who has a tiny bit of cash on hand (even though they may be really poor) will probably not be eligible for Medicaid as it is difficult to qualify. Definitely the system needs to change in such a developed country as the USA.

I know that in Israel there is a national health system. Also the Israeli unemployment benefits are paid for by the government rather than the employers. Also if one is forced to take a job that pays less than one would get on unemployment the government will make up the difference. I believe also that divorced women with minor children get some help (small allowance) from the government.

[dragonborn]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

When I say poor, I mean people poor enough to qualify for foodstamps and housing benefit, not working poor. This topic is on the welfare system, and we take care of our poor better than all countries outside of the West and Japan.

The working poor are still poor. In the UK, they would be eligible for assistance with housing and like everyone else, they would receive free healthcare.

The USA does not take care of its poor, because you have millions of people who cannot afford healthcare and a huge homeless problem. It's very easy to become destitute over here, IMO. We have the Citizens Advice Bureau, local councils and of course the NHS to turn to. Welfare is vital in western societies where traditional families and communities no longer exist to support many people. Welfare isn't about entitlement - it's necessary, largely because of the changes in western societies over the last few decades.

[dragonborn]

Originally Posted by Chava61

To qualify for Medicaid one has to be extremely poor not just poor. Any one who has a tiny bit of cash on hand (even though they may be really poor) will probably not be eligible for Medicaid as it is difficult to qualify. Definitely the system needs to change in such a developed country as the USA.

I know that in Israel there is a national health system. Also the Israeli unemployment benefits are paid for by the government rather than the employers. Also if one is forced to take a job that pays less than one would get on unemployment the government will make up the difference. I believe also that divorced women with minor children get some help (small allowance) from the government.

Similar to the UK.

It is very difficult to qualify for Medicaid. You do indeed have to be very poor. It doesn't help the working poor or the recently unemployed who cannot afford huge COBRA payments.

[imokay]

It would also be interesting to know how people who are on welfare are viewed by society in these countries. I.E. if they're viewed as negatively as they are in the US.

[irish_bob]

Originally Posted by imokay

It would also be interesting to know how people who are on welfare are viewed by society in these countries. I.E. if they're viewed as negatively as they are in the US.

wellfare reciptients are viewed less harshly over here than in america but a lot more harshly than the media ( which is disproportionatley left wing ) would have you believe

[Baldrick]

Originally Posted by imokay

It would also be interesting to know how people who are on welfare are viewed by society in these countries. I.E. if they're viewed as negatively as they are in the US.

In the UK people that receive benefits (welfare) aren't looked down on as long as they're perceived to be trying to do something about it. Freeloaders aren't thought of very highly anywhere.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

No. As much as Republicans like to disparage welfare, notice how they never do anything about it? Clinton was the last president who did major reforms. The US has quite the welfare state that Europe does. The programs are almost the same, just the benefits aren't as lavish. Our welfare system is pathetic, relatively speaking, to northern Europe. If you want pathetic, look at Mexico. That's what you call a pathetic welfare state

It depends in part on what you include in the term "welfare system". If you include medical coverage, the view shifts. Even tiny, broken-down Ecuador provides universal health care! If you include university education, the view gets worse still. I wonder how easy or difficult it is to get disability-type benefits in Europe (like SSI, in the US)? Do you include Social Security in your definition of "welfare"? If so, that part of the welfare system is, indeed, threatened. Do you consider unemployment insurance to be part of "welfare"? If so, the support has shrunk. If you define "welfare" narrowly, as literally welfare payments and food stamps, then you're right, we at least have such a system. That's not saying much, and it's leaving out of the equation a number of troubled programs.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by imokay

It would also be interesting to know how people who are on welfare are viewed by society in these countries. I.E. if they're viewed as negatively as they are in the US.

They're viewed negatively in the US mainly because the view of welfare recipients was racialized. In countries with a more homogeneous population, welfare recipients aren't viewed as badly because there's not so much of a "them and us" attitude towards them.