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Show MYTH: Most welfare families are black. FACT: families are of Latin birth or ancestry: Mexican, Cuban, Venezulan, etc. The largest racial group among welfare families 49 percent is white. Blacks represent about 46 percent. Most the remaining 5 percent are American Indians, Orientals, and other racial minorities. Latin American families cut across racial lines; 14.4 percent of AFDC of MYTH: Why work when you can live it up on welfare? FACT: The average payment to a welfare family of four with no other income varies among States, from a low of $60 per month in Mississippi to a high of $375 per month in Alaska. all but four States, welfare payments have been below the established poverty level of $331 per month, or $3,972 per In year, for a family of four. Unfortunately, some of the Nations working poor ineligible for assistance under the present welfare system earn less than the poverty level, too. Each State establishes its own "need the amount required for standard 4 Families headed by females account for most of those on welfare black or white. Studies have shown that such families are significantly less able to survive economically than those with both parents present, regardless of race. the necessities of family living. A State standard may be below or above the poverty line. A State will use its "need standard as a base for determining eligibility. However, 38 States pay less some much less than their own established standard of need. The Federal Government shares the cost of payments made by the States. Welfare reform proposals establishing a Federal income floor nationally for welfare families would provide an even base for payments and increase recipients' incomes in at least eight States now paying the lowest amounts. The working poor would get a cash assist as well, insuring that a family head would always be better off by working. Under welfare reform, any family head who is able to work but remains unemployed would have to take a job or job training in order to receive welfare benefits. ' MYTH: Welfare families are loaded with kids and have more just to get more money. FACT: receives assistance for about two years. It is clear, then, that the majority of welfare children were conceived or born before the family applied for assistance. Also, the typical payment for an additional child is $35 a month, hardly enough to cover the cost of rearing an additional child. Some States impose maximum payment limits; families reaching that ceiling usually a 4- - to family get no additional money for another child. The typical welfare family has a mother and three children. Since 1967, the trend has been toward smaller families on welfare. The birth rate for welfare families, like the birth rate for the general population, is dropping. Most children in welfare families (90 percent) are two years old or older. Studies show that the average family MYTH: CHILDREN PER WELFARE FAMILY Most welfare children are illegitimate. 30, FACT: sizeable majority approximately 68 percent of the more than 7 million children in welfare families were born in wedlock, according to data compiled by the Social and Rehabilitation Service. A 20 u0 15 10 In addition, 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 and 7 8or more most middle- - and families have always been able to purchase family planning counseling and services from private physicians. However, only in the past few years has government made a concerted effort to deliver such services to the poor. upper-incom- e |