Why do single moms get so many handouts?

Question

*Especially young single moms who did not plan the pregnancy.*

It is so frustrating. Why reward them for being irresponsible?

Answer 1

i understand your feelings, but there is about 100 answers for this question: i was a single mom for a long time. married before, then he left. i was on birth control. everday, never missed. there are a lot of women that got pregnant on birth control, even taking it correctly. i didn't receive handouts, but i did use what i was qualified for from the health department. i worked full time, and it was given as supplement.

i do think the rules should be more strict. mabey test the applicants for drugs, or require them to work at least part time.

and another person said the father-that is also true. what is the woman supposed to do when the father takes off or changes his mind about the child? being a single mother is very hard, period. handouts or not.

i have paid back the community 10 fold since i have gotten a better job & married again. does that make me an irresponsible person, because i was so appreciative that i helped 10 families in the long run? i just bought school supplies for 5 kids. i have 3 of my own.

single motheres aren't the only ones who get the handouts-it is hard working married couples that cannot seem to get ahead, also. as long as the kids are being taken care of that is all i worry about.

what i DON'T like:: a single mom using food stamps, with $50 acrylic nails and a $300 baby phat outfit on, and a dooney and burke purse to go with it. THATS BEING REWARDED

Answer 2

I would watch what I say because one day u might find yourself in the same situation as many single mothers.

Answer 3

let me ask you a question...

do you believe in abortion??

would you rather have these young women have one?

I ask that because I find that there are so many pro lifers who want babies to live but then complain about their taxes going to take care of them.

I don't like the idea of someone using the system either.But did you know that if every dead beat dad payed up on their child support that we could totally re do the welfare system. so lets not just blame the moms. We should get tougher on the dead beat dads. there is a lot of these moms who did not start off as single parents but the fathers took off. The job market is tough, kids are expensive and it would be inhuman to let them starve or live on the streets.

The usa spends more in 6 months of war than it does supporting these mothers.

and *gasp* go forbid we talk about s*x in school and teach young people about protection!

I understand your head ache but I am sure if we were to take a look were our tax money is going you would see there are far more things to be upset about.. like war...  

Answer 4

I have a 10 yr old daughter and a 2 yr old son..i am applying for foodstamps and am waiting on the answer as i write this. I applied cause my fiancee is sitting in jail for the next 4 months and i have no choice but to ask for help...After my bills are paid with the money we saved, i really have no other spending money, not even for food..I am not abusing the system. I am using it until my fiancee gets out(he is in there on a habitual DWLS...he had to drive to support his family which he was doing and the system is SO crappy that they could not give him a hardship license just for work..all they want is money so because of the system, i am temporarily getting help weather you or anybody else likes it or not

Answer 5

my cousin is a single mother and not by choice either she was with the father of her kids and he was killed so she should get no hand outs. or if a dead beat father who is in a relationship with the mother of his child then decides he doesn't want anything to do with her or their baby she should get no hand outs. your question proves to me and to some others that you have no idea what it's like to be a single mother and if you are a mother and something happens that you might be come a single mother you won't have any idea what to do because you where so ignorant in the past. mother's need to take care of their kids and one income isn't enough unless they are rich and if they are rich they won't even qualify for handouts., instead of judging someone try spending the day in their shoes.

Answer 6

Actually I am a single mom getting some handouts. Her father is no longer taking any responsibility or I wouldn't have to (pregnancy was planned and I was married). It's difficult on a proud, independent person. But I do agree with your point about rewarding the "young single moms who did not plan the pregnancy". It does seem like they're being rewarded for being irresponsible. In my mind we reward them for being s***s, while the elderly struggle. They paid their dues in the depression, worked their whole lives and can't afford medications, housing, food. It's absolutely sickening.  

Answer 7

That's just the thing.  They made the responsible choice.  Sure, the act of getting pregnant when you're not financially prepared is not the best choice the young woman could have made.  But, she could have chosen to "simply" have an abortion.  She made the responsible choice to say no to abortion and bring her baby into the world - maybe in a less than ideal situation - but that's why these "handouts" are so important, they may not always be able to do it on their own.

Answer 8

You know- your question doesn't refer to me but I felt the need to comment.  Okay- so if it was their choice- guess what? We live in a country where no one gets a back turned on them.  Because if there is a starving mother and baby- they get the nourishment and shelter they need. I don't see a problem with it.  If someone needs help they deserve to be helped. Simple as that. I think you may be refering to the mothers that ABUSE the system

Answer 9

because being a single mom is HARD. Having a child and being single is not a REWARD. And dont you think it would be ESPECIALLY hard if it was an unplanned pregnancy? You dont even know what you're talking about.

EDIT

I've never had a kid before but I've seen women struggle and how so many people judge them strangers no less, not knowing a single thing about the mother. Dont be stupid, think before you speak. Especially if you've never been there or been around it.

Answer 10

It is very frustrating.  I haven't had a child.  I've been having s*x responsibly for years.  I don't have one night stands or various sexual partners.  The government won't give me a thing.  But they would if I slept around, had kids with various men, never used protection and refuse to get a job.

Answer 11

Maybe they are commending them for making the choice to be responsible enough to try and raise the child.  Sometimes young people use birth control (ok, maybe not alot) and it failed.  Should they be punished for that?  However, eventually these young moms grow up and earn more money and can take care of themselves and their child a little bit better.  

Answer 12

And what about the responsibilities of the men who knocked them up?

Or are only women to blame for the pregnancies?

counter question: why do oil companies get so many handouts? The amount we give to the very rich and profitable oil companies far exceeds the money we give  to single moms.

Answer 13

Because in our society we have the misguided conception that we are helping the innocent child of their irresponsibility.  In reality, we are rewarding poor choices.  

Back in the day - irresponsible single girls were more prone to put their children up for adoption to loving couples who wanted but were unable to have children.  Now with the handouts, we have a society of baby mamas, supported by the taxpayers.  Couples unable to have children, who would provide a financially stable and loving home for these children cannot compete with the "keep my baby and get handouts" mentality.

I'm glad it wasn't that way 50 years ago.  I'm adopted and it was truly a blessing    

Answer 14

because its not the babys fault it was concieved. Can you imagine how some of these kids would be taken care of if the parents didnt get help? My pregnancys werent planned. i had my first at 19 and am going to be having my second in two weeks at the age of 21. i am with the father, we both work hard to take care of our children, they mean the world to me. Not all of us are irresponsible.....ever think of that....

i just remembered why i quit coming on this site....all the bashing and stupid questions from these little kiddies...but hey thanks for the reminder....

Answer 15

My sister is a single mom and she does not sit around and wait for handouts. She gets up every morning and goes to work to support her child. I know some people take advantage of the system, but not everyone. Also, everyone makes mistakes, and I think everyone deserves a little bit of help.

Answer 16

"It is for me to judge when taxes are taken out of my paycheck."

It's funny to me when people say this because social welfare is such a small portion of what your tax dollars go toward. The same people who are so ready to cut Medicaid, WIC, and Head Start are the same ones who fully support our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do you realize how much we are spending every day to fight these wars? What goes to our counties underprivileged children (and troops for that matter) is such a minuscule amount when you compare it to the trillions going to fight a war.

I think all of you who are persecuting single moms should thank your lucky stars that you are not in their situation and hope that you never are. Karma is a *****!

Answer 17

I am a 28 year old single mom! I have my own place a car and I take good care of my two children. I had my first child at the tender age of 19 and to be honest I wouldnt change it for the world!!!!!!!

My kids are the reason I am so determined, they are the reason I get up everyday and go to a job that I hate but it pays the bills. THey are the reason I decided to futher my education and go back to college for my nursing degree. They are the reason I am who I am today! I made a mistake but the best blessings came from them. I was on welfare for a couple of months when I really needed it but I have always had a job.

I understand some people arent making the best of being single and some people take advantage, however if your not there you do not know stop assuming because when you do you make an A$$ out of yourself. Children are a blessing no matter what the circumstance!

Answer 18

Because this country caters to stupidity.  

Answer 19

Hmmmmmmmm... I'm a single mom.  Not a YOUNG single mom, though.

I must have missed the hand out bin.  I receive NO handout.  My son's worthless father doesn't even pay child support, even though it's court ordered.

Don't generalize.  It's rude.

Answer 20

Because the good old USA is a country where stupid people are to be rewarded for thier stupidity at the expense of the rest of us. If you get knocked up, suddenly taxpayers have a $ 50.000.00 bill to cover (prenatal, care, the birth and hospital stay) not to mention everything that's needed after the baby is born. Then, the rest of us have to pick up the slack at work because she needs to take a maternity leave. If you are responsible and dont have kids, don't worry, someone els will  have them for you. Great question by the way.

Answer 21

Don't ask me, while others get squat, irresponsible women who pop out kids constantly and then talk badly and lie about abortions get free handouts from the government. YOU CHOSE the kid, YOU PAY for it.

Answer 22

It was a choice they had to make between abortion or keeping the child? That's not even an easy choice. We are paying for their mistakes because every time something happens we cry for the government to be more involved. So don't ignorantly blame a mother for condoms breaking, or boyfriends that are jerks , or not choosing to abort the baby....blame the people that cry for more government interference. that's why. you're thinking is focused on something so narrow that is totally prejudice.

Answer 23

Im sorry but Im missing the part where YOU have to pay for it?

and what is frustrating is- so many people judge everyone else, without knowing circumstances, reasons, anything. They think if you are young and a mom that it was an accident, or unplanned, or out of stupidity. Whatever happened to mistakes? Everyone is so goddamn judgmental that its a wonder why anyone cares about anyone anymore.

and not every single, young mom takes "handouts" and im sick of the stereotype.

I say- good for those moms, at least they are doing what they can to support the baby, and didnt kill it or abandon it.

this question has officially pissed me off

and one more thing- birth control isnt fool proof, and who the h**l are you to judge

Answer 24

pitty