The ‘New Recipients’: Or Whatever Happened to Public Welfare?

Abstract

Recipients of public welfare are usually understood to be the prime beneficiaries of the public welfare system. But an analysis of the system reveals that the payments to both service and medical providers have overtaken the cash payments. These provider groups, in point of fact, have become the “new recipients” and have a strong stake in the system and the cash reimbursement formulas. The juxtaposition of the medical and the income maintenance systems raise serious policy questions as to the advisability of keeping the systems together.