I've noticed in my lifetime that people who think the only recourse for them when things get bad is welfare tend to learn how to manipulate the system pretty well. I know there are lots good people who just get on it but it seems that for every one normal person there is at least one other deadbeat who is on it perpetually. Crack the stats on neighborhoods where a majority of people are on welfare and you will see that that neighborhood is gang infested deadbeats. I know a lot welfare goes to rural areas but those asses should just move to the city and get jobs and there is plenty of them because Obama created so many of them (no really he did).
My experience has been very different. My mom served in the Army where she had 2 children. After divorce left her single with 2 kids under 5, she used the GI bill to go to school to become a nurse. But the GI bill only pays when you're actually in school. During the summer and winter break, there was no money coming in. So, during the winter and summer for about 3 years she went on welfare. And during the school year she used the GI bill that she'd earned with her military service.
She graduated with her LVN license after 3 years and found a job. She went on to become an RN and eventually a nurse manager earning a 6 figure income.
Welfare was a stepping stone. A stop gap. And it allowed a single mother to provide for her 2 children through gainful, useful work.