Youth Opinion : ‘Welfare Rewards Teen Pregnancy’

The U.S. government is trying to reform welfare laws so mothers under the age of 18 cannot receive aid. I think this is a great way to solve a major problem with the welfare system.

The welfare system now rewards teen-age pregnancy by taking money from hard-working, responsible individuals and giving it away to some irresponsible teens.

The government should not give teen mothers money because I have seen them use it to support their own needs instead of the baby’s. For example, one 16 year old I know uses her welfare check to purchase street drugs, while her parents care for and feed her baby. Other people have told me they know people who say they are on welfare just for the money.

Because the welfare system is easy to abuse, the government should have more restrictions for the applicants. The government should first carefully check the mother’s living conditions to see if she’s getting an education, whether there is drug or alcohol abuse or other issues that would affect the baby’s health and safety.

Mothers under the age of 18 should be forced to live with their family or guardian, or the baby’s father or his family. In cases of abuse or problems at home, the teen mom should live with a relative or supportive friend. This would mean the mothers would receive most of the financial aid from their families, keeping the government’s portion to a minimum.

Instead of monetary aid, the government should tie any help to programs that encourage education or getting a job. Welfare is supposed to help people get on their feet and not make them dependent on it for five or six years. That way, when I start working, I’ll feel that the hard-earned money taken out of my paychecks is going where it is really needed rather than toward supporting those who are abusing the system.