Should Single Teenage Mothers Receive Welfare? The topic of whether or not single teenage mothers should be given welfare payments is a debatable topic. Individuals against welfare payments for single teenage mothers usually argue that the welfare payments are a waste of taxpayer’s money and that the mother should find a proper job and get support from the father of the child. This can be problematic as a very young child should not be left alone and needs to be watched by an adult, which can cost over $10,000 for daycare a year according to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). Individuals in favor of supporting teenage mothers with welfare payments argue poverty will negatively affect the child’s and mother’s future. A child raised in poverty has a greater chance of committing crimes, and will…show more content… The mother has to drop out of school to take care of the child limiting the amount of potential jobs the mother can have.
Teen mothers are less likely to complete the education necessary to qualify for a well-paying job— only 41% of mothers who have a child before age 18 ever complete high school. In the past 25 years, the median income for college graduates increased 13%, while the median income for high school dropouts decreased 30%. (SCAA, Page 4)
Welfare educational programs provided to the teenage mother can help them land a better paying job and help them get off of welfare as soon as possible. Secondly, because children born by teenagers are more likely to be born with a disability, the mother will need more financial help with the child. Lastly the stress involved with paying bills, a full-time job, child, and being a teenager can be too much as times. Being able to know you can pay bills and other necessity’s helps a
