The issues of welfare and welfare reform are controversial, political, and difficult to resolve. Today, the debate continues over who deserves benefits and who doesn't. In 1933, President Roosevelt created Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) as part of the New Deal. This first form of welfare was available to those who could demonstrate the need and ability to maintain their own minimum resources. It specifically addressed aid to single women with children. This was a controversial and much debated topic. Even now, many years later, Congress continues to debate and reform welfare programs. It still carries with it the same intensity, controversy and conflicting opinions as it did years ago. Through research, personal interviews and first-hand knowledge, I will demonstrate how the Social Assistance Program in New York State is nothing short of a parasite, stripping recipients of their dignity, ambition and dreams of a better life, masquerading as temporary help. to those who need it. To understand this topic, the best place to start is at the beginning of the process. To receive benefits you must first meet eligibility requirements. These requirements are regularly updated and published by the New York Public Welfare Association (New York Public Welfare Association, 2011). NYPWA says caseworkers review the income, family size and demonstration of need of all its applicants. Factors such as medical emergencies, pregnancy, homelessness, or unemployment are the most common need factors found when reviewing applications. The screening process is rigorous and candidates must have all supporting documentation for their requests, such as pay stubs, among other things for… half the paper… in a year? It's time to take a serious look at how we treat the less fortunate and come up with better programs and assistance than we have available now. It is painfully obvious that what we have now is clearly not effective. The system itself only diminishes and impoverishes its beneficiaries further than they already were before receiving assistance. Oh, wait for temporary assistance. Works Cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009, December 17). Retrieved from www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm.New York Public Welfare Association. (2011). Retrieved July 12, 2011, from Welfare Information: http://www.welfareinfo,org/Loprest, P.J. (2002). Make the transition from welfare to work; successes but continuing concernsWeil & K. Feingold (eds.), Welfare Reform; The next act (pp. 17-20). Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press.