Massachusetts was the leader in welfare reform and the model for the Federal welfare reform. It was hoped, that among other things, that by limiting the total amount of time that someone was eligible for welfare to 5 years that He or She would work towards financial independence. The contrary is true!

A study was done to find out what happened to all the former welfare people not on the rolls. Some had gotten jobs. Some had left the state for states that hadn't as yet set time limits on the receipt of benefits. Some couldn't be found to find out what happened to them.

Now here's the kicker, ONE HALF OF THE FORMER WELFARE RECIPIENTS WERE NOW ON SOCIAL SECURITY! THAT'S RIGHT, HALF!

This is not rumor but fact. A large percentage of what use to be people who were supported under the broad federal budget were now receiving their income from Social Security. I'm sure that there were a few that deserved to be granted S.S disability status, but I believe, in fact I know that many S.S. recipients have found the Doctor/Lawyer combination the would work with them so that they would be collecting S.S. payments for the rest of their lives.

Social Security need not be in as bad a shape as it is now. I believe that if the S.S. system was cleaned up of all the money being passed out for fake disability that it would be a good first step in helping the S.S. system be more available to senior citizens.