The Already Tattered US Safety Net Is Fraying Even More
The US spends far less on social programs than comparable nations, and red-tape barriers ensure that millions who qualify for help never receive it. Republicans are further eviscerating the safety net when we should be repairing and expanding it.
Three out of every five eligible seniors who qualify for SNAP get no benefits. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
“Keep looking for help. There are lots of resources out there if you search for them.”
More times than I can count, my law school clinic students and I have stood in front of judges who repeat this bromide to our clients while those same judges order the eviction of a family, deny health coverage for a person living with disabilities, or block someone who has been laid off from getting unemployment benefits.
Right-wing think tanks insist our welfare system is generous, and even well-meaning social work programs claim our programs ensure people meet their basic needs. That is not true.
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