Beltway Confidential

America’s welfare system is a mess, in one chart

By Jason Russell
Published November 6, 2015 4:46pm ET
Add Washington Examiner on Google
America’s welfare system is a mess, in one chart
Over $1 trillion of taxpayer money gets spent on welfare, yet the poverty rate is where it was 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) | Seth Wenig

Can you guess how many welfare programs the federal government runs? Five? 10? Fifty?

The correct answer is more than 80, according to the Congressional Research Service. With so many programs, figuring out where to get help can be a time-consuming challenge.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Commentary Congress Entitlements Jason Russell Minusextra Poverty Welfare