Which situation is preferable?

Question

Theoretical situation. A woman is single and having her first child. She may do one of two things: continue working full time living paycheck to paycheck, putting her child in daycare for over 40 hours a week, and stay off welfare. Or, she may quit her job, stay home with her baby, and live on WIC, welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing, Medicaid, and any other social programs. Which is the right thing to do? Struggle and keep working hard, or stay home and take it easy while using welfare?

Many single women are faced with this dilemma, and I'm curious what you think is the right thing to do.

Answer 1

I believe if the woman is capable of working with her child, then she should work.  She chose to have s*x and get pregnant, so she does have a responsibility.  However, if that same woman cannot find a job, no matter how hard she has tried, or she is disabled, or some other legitimate reason, welfare is not a bad thing.  My hubby was a hard worker for many years, and was seriously injured on the job, and cannot work ever again. In instances like this, welfare is perfectly legit.  It depends on the woman, and every scenario. However, I will say this, being a single mom staying home to take care of her child, is not an easy job. Being a full time mom is probably one of the hardest, but most rewarding job anyone could have.  So please do not say that a stay at home mom is lazy, either married or single. thank you very much

Answer 2

Honestly it depends on the rest of the situation.  I know for me I have worked part-time jobs since becoming a mom but every time my boys would get sick I would have to end up staying home which caused even more issues.  Also having a child with special needs and being a single mom has its problems too because then childcare costs even more than what you might make working.  So it is really more complicated than just simply which is the right thing to do because everyone situation is different.

For example I am a mom of two young boys, I have worked like I said and even was fulltime working 50 hrs a week for awhile and lost all help from the government even though my job didn't offer any benefits.  I haven't been able to return to working fulltime since my oldest was 3 years old because he had a lot of health issues as did my younger son which meant me only being able to work set number of days and set number of hours and when you apply for a job and they find out you are a single mom they automatically think you couldn't work anyways and won't hire you (I know this for a fact).  So yes I ended up getting assistance and continue to work what hours I can in between Dr visits for myself and my two boys, one of which was diagnosed with PDD/Aspergers.  Part of the problem is that with government assistance as soon as you even get a part-time job, before your first paycheck even comes in they will take away your foodstamps and medical card so you can't even get on your feet first.  

Answer 3

Work...whether it's part time or full time and if you need additional help then get it.

Answer 4

Working hard will pay off in the end.  Staying home is not showing anyone that she can do it on her own.  She could still use medicaid and WIC if needed to help her out.  By her working though she's proving that she wants a good life for her baby.  However the best thing she can do for her and her child is to go back to school, take online classes or TV classes through a community college and get a degree, or even a certificate.

Answer 5

It depends on how much her income is and her baby's health.  If her income is high enough to afford daycare then she should work, but many times the mother's income just isnt enough to even pay daycare let alone rent, etc.  If that's the case then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to go on welfare for a couple months until you get daycare in place and then get off.  Because at least where I live it takes for ever to get regular low income daycare.  It took my sister over 2 years to get it.  Now my baby was a preemie and got sick all the time his first year of life.  It was impossible for me to work.  I tried but ended up having to quit after real soon because he was hospitalized again.  In that scenario, it is in the best interest of the child to stay home.  I was lucky 6 of those 12 months I was with the father.

Answer 6

I am 30 years old and pregnant with my first and only child.  My bc failed; I had no plans for children.  I am single.  I work 40+ hours a week, and will continue to do so.  It would be easier to cut down to part time and let the public pay for my child, but I have pride and integrity.  It is my child and I'm responsible.  So, I work hard and pay my own way.  Any woman who is adult enough to lay down and make a baby should be woman enough to stand up, work full time (or more, if necessary), and pay her own way.  

I should add that in my state, if a woman works full time, even at minimum wage, she will make too much to qualify for any public assistance.  Yet I see MANY women in my town who feed off that public trough, and many of those have their husbands/fiances/boyfriends there to help.  They are hustling the system, at my (and your) expense.  It's wrong.  

Answer 7

Single mothers can work and still get benefits from the State or government, including WIC and medical help for their child, plus daycare.  it all depends upon the mom's income.  Most of the time, there is help for these tax-paying citizens.

Personally, i raised my son alone for the first nine years of his life.  I worked full time... for a while i received help with daycare, and he got medical benefits... I progressed in my career and no longer required this sort of help.  

Answer 8

Are there any other options? Possibly working part time? Maybe if you only worked part time you would qualify for daycare assistance. Don't feel bad for using government help, that's what its there for. You don't have to quit working completely just because your on welfare though. I hope everything works out.