I was on food stamps after my children were born and it helped us to establish ourselves financially in a way that we no longer needed the support. The first month that we no longer qualify was very scary for us. I had 2 children at the time and we qualified for $200/ month in food stamps. My husband got a .15 raise and we no longer qualified. I thought then, there should be a sliding scale off of welfare to help ease the transition. Now, 19 years later, I see that this is a great solution for transitions out of the entire welfare system.
All assistance must come with an maximum time of usage. For example, you should only be able to have benefits for 5 years. Each year the dollar amount should be reduced by 20%. By year 5, each month is reduced until $0.
Also, once someone qualifys for benefits, strategically wean them off based on income. Cutting off benefits for getting a raise is incentive to not get a raise. Instead there should be a limit to qualify, with more prove then is currently required, and a different income limit to no longer qualify at 100% of benefits but they still receive 75% of benefits. Next raise they qualify for 50% benefits etc.
These programs are supposed to be a hand up but are instead impeding societies ambitions.