(Iraq's) New Welfare System Overwhelmed

[Barrett808]

New Welfare System Overwhelmed
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi families sign up for a more inclusive benefits scheme.
By Wa'd Ibrahim in Mosul (ICR No. 174, 26-Apr-06)

Many of Iraq’s poorest families should by now be benefiting from a new welfare support system, but only a fraction of those in need have received help so far because the civil service cannot cope.

The government created the Social Safety Net earlier this year as way of caring for the growing number of poor families.

It replaces the previous family welfare project which offered aid to needy Iraqis such as war widows and the disabled. The new scheme provides higher monthly payments and increases the number of people who qualify, paying out monthly benefits to groups such as the unemployed, low-income families and married students. Families which would have received up to 50,000 dinars (34 US dollars) a month before will now get between 50,000 and 120,000 dinars.

The government has allocated about 500 billion Iraqi dinars, or 341 million dollars, from fuel revenues to fund the scheme.

Hundreds of thousands of families have signed up for benefits, overwhelming branch offices of the labour and social affairs ministry, which have had difficulty handling the bureaucracy.

(more)

http://www.iwpr.net/?p=icr&s=f&o=261357&apc_state=henh

[Sub Atomic]

1. Imagine that. A welfare system setup by the Repubs is in disarray.

Who would have figured.

[noonwitch]

2. All welfare systems are always in disarray, no matter who is running them

It's the nature of government programs, because they are dependent on government funding. Republicans will fund this, but not that. Democrats will fund that, but not this.

Welfare really is no way to live. I've been working in the child welfare system, which is connected to it, for 19 years. I've seen the poverty people on ADC deal with-I really think you make more money on minimum wage, if the welfare program will provide you with insurance until you meet your employer's requirements for coverage, and assistance in obtaining good day care. If you make minimum wage and have kids, you are generally eligible for assistance in getting food, either from community agencies, USDA give-aways or churches, to stretch your money.

But getting a check for doing nothing is not good for people unless it is just temporary assistance to change one's circumstances for the better. It takes your pride away and lowers your expectations of yourself and your kids. I advise teenagers I work with to get that HS diploma and never apply for welfare unless it is a life or death situation, or involves the health of children. And, if they do have to apply and receive benefits, to look for a better situation the entire time.

My main complaint about welfare to work programs is that they usually don't include job training or education. I don't mind my tax dollars being used to help poor people get a better job skill or a college education. I'm not one of those "why should they get something for free that I had to work for" types.

[Javaman]

3. Huh, must be all those Iraqi welfare queens...

You know the ones: driving around in limo's, treating themselves to fine wines and foods, getting the best clothes and living in large houses...Oh wait, that's the contractors.

When the bread winners, be they male or female, have been blown up, killed, kidnapped, beheaded or put in prison, it's no wonder there system is overwhelmed.

Is there nothing about Iraq that moron* and his room full of dopes hasn't fucked up?

I truly hate them with every single fiber of my being.