Not_Now.Soon,

<<When you get more help for doing nothing, then you can get by providing for yourself, (and you have to choose one or the other) then that encourages people to stay in the welfare system instead of trying to get out.>>

I find this to be a harsh assessment. I depend on the welfare system - an age pension - as I'm no longer able to work in my retirement. I've paid taxes all my life and Australia provides a pension within limits of financial assessment.

I have a severe heart condition after 5 - yes, five - open heart valve replacement surgeries, epilepsy and sleep apnoea. In your language, I'm 'doing nothing'. I cannot provide for myself. I'm a pension recipient because I need that financial help. I'm blessed to live in Australia where that help is available.

//Unfortunately though, in most countries this also means that if someone gets just out of that spot by getting a job that is low paying and doesn't meet their needs, then they get shut off from the help within welfare. When you get more help for doing nothing, then you can get by providing for yourself, (and you have to choose one or the other) then that encourages people to stay in the welfare system instead of trying to get out.//

Australia has a better designed system than that - you don't have to choose one or the other, if your job is insufficient to make ends meet you can still get a partial payment, but you will always have higher income working and claiming a partial payment than not working and getting the full payment. It's specifically set up that way to remove financial disincentives from the unemployed taking up work, even if it's low hours/pay.

To OzSpen

Sorry about that, I should have specified more to what portion of welfare assistance
I was focusing on. I fully support retirement pensions and think those who've worked most of their life should be able to retire and be taken care of. Whether this is through family support, government taxes, or something else, it doesn't matter to me so long as it's being provided somehow. That said, after reading Toni's comment, I don't think my concerns for misuse of the welfare program has merit. Which is good because I agree with the idea to give assistance and be generous as an applied Christian teaching.

To Toni.

Thanks for the correction. It was my misunderstanding.

Great article.