Public Opinion Polls on Welfare and Poverty
Here is a summary of American public opinion regarding poverty and welfare. It is a synopsis from eight polling sources; The Cato Institute, YouGov.com, American Enterprise Institute (AEI)/Los Angeles Times, Gallup, Pew Research, Rasmussen Reports, American Enterprise, and The Foundation For Government Accountability (FGA), All polls referenced are further detailed below.
Work
Americans have a very strong favorable opinion of work. 80% believe that hard work is its own reward [Cato]. 75% of voters in FGA poll and 87% in AEI/Los Angeles Times poll support requiring able-bodied adults to work, train, or volunteer at least part-time in order to receive welfare. 65% of current welfare recipients say that most poor people receiving welfare benefits today “would rather earn their living” [Cato]. 64% of American Adults think that childless, able-bodied adults in their state should be required to work as a condition for receiving Medicaid [Rassmussen], [70% FGA].
Welfare Opinion of those in poverty :
55% of those in poverty believe the main purpose behind welfare is to help poor people get back on their feet again. 39% believe the purpose is to provide for the needs of poor people while they are poor. [AEI/Los Angeles Times Survey]. 63% of people receiving welfare today say that the war on poverty has not succeeded [YouGov.com / Cato Institute].
13% of those in poverty favor sending benefits to the poor without asking for any effort in return. 83% believe a work requirement or job training should be attached to the receipt of welfare [AEI/Los Angeles Times Survey].
42% of those in poverty believe that when poverty programs failed, it was primarily because they were not well designed. 29% believe it was because not enough money was spent to make them successful. 23% believe it was because the benefits never got to the poor people [AEI/Los Angeles Times Survey]
Causes of Poverty:
When asked about the top three causes of poverty in the United States, Americans believe that poor life choices (42%) and abuse of drugs and alcohol (40%) are the top causes. Lack of job opportunities (29%), the breakdown of families (29%), and a lack of work ethic (29%) are the next highest reasons. Fewer say that government programs fostering dependency (14%) and inadequate government programs (13%) are to blame. [Cato]
Personal Donations and Volunteering:
Americans have a strong history of giving to charity and volunteering time. 73% donated to charities over the past year, and 58% volunteered at a religious institution or other charity [Pew]; [71% Cato].
More Spending or More Opportunity:
The Cato Institute sponsored a poll with YouGov.com that found the poor want more opportunity, not more welfare.
In the poll, 58% of welfare recipients said that even if the government had unlimited spending, it could not end poverty. 59% of welfare recipients say that the government should focus on eliminating the underlying causes of poverty, as opposed to “giving what money we have to poor people to help them get on their feet.” 76% of welfare recipients believe that increased economic growth will do more to reduce poverty than an increase in welfare spending.
Dissatisfaction with Government:
Ineffective: 77% of Americans call the war on poverty ineffective [YouGov.com / Cato Institute]. 72% believe the government does not know enough to fix poverty [Cato]. In a ranking of satisfaction with the nation’s efforts on 21 separate policy areas, poverty and homelessness finished last, with only 21% of Americans satisfied with the nation’s efforts in that regard [Gallup].
Focus: 60% of Americans believe welfare programs are not designed to lift people out of poverty [Cato]. 70% believe the government should try and eliminate the causes of poverty rather than increase welfare benefits [Cato]. About 50% of Americans, including those in poverty, believe that government programs have made things worse or had no impact on the poor [AEI/Los Angeles Times]. 55% think government policies and practices encourage increased homelessness in some cities and states [Rassmussen].
Universal Basic Income:
There is not a lot of survey information on Universal Basic Income. In one survey, 34% of respondents would support such a program, whereby 48% were opposed [Rasmussen]. Americans generally don’t support free money to welfare recipients with no strings attached, as shown in the “work” above.
Political Focus:
When asked to rate the top priorities for the president and Congress to address, strengthening the economy is number one, reducing the deficit is number six, and helping poor people is number thirteen [Pew].
THE SURVEYS / POLLS
The Poor want More Opportunities. Not More Welfare Spending
[Cato Institute / YouGov.com]
The poll found the following:
- 63 percent of people receiving welfare today say that the War on Poverty has not succeeded.
- 58 percent of welfare recipients said that even if the government had unlimited spending it could not end poverty.
- 59 percent of welfare recipients say that the government should focus on eliminating the underlying causes of poverty, as opposed to “giving what money we have to poor people to help them get on their feet.”
- 76 percent of welfare recipients believe that increased economic growth will do more to reduce poverty than would increasing welfare spending.
June 5, 2019
Click here for the full survey.
What Americans Think about Poverty, Wealth, and Work
Findings from the Cato Institute – 2019 Welfare, Work, and Wealth National Survey. September 24, 2019.
By Emily Ekins
Click here for the full survey.
72% of Americans Say Government Doesn’t Know Enough to Fix Poverty
Nearly three-fourths (72%) of Americans say that even if the government were to “spend whatever is necessary” to eliminate poverty that it doesn’t “know enough”
60% of Americans Don’t Think Welfare Programs Are Designed to Lift People Out of Poverty
Most Americans believe that government welfare programs are not designed to help people climb out of poverty. Instead 60% believe these programs “simply provide for peoples’ basic needs while they are poor” rather than help them “climb out of poverty” (39%). Majorities of both welfare recipients (53%) and nonrecipients (62%) agree these programs simply provide for basic needs rather than help people get out of poverty.
77% of Americans Say Government Efforts to Fight Poverty Have Been “Ineffective”
More than three‐fourths (77%) of Americans say government efforts to fight poverty over the past 10 to 15 years have been “ineffective.” A quarter (23%) disagree and say anti‐poverty efforts have been effective. This perception is not controversial, with majorities of welfare recipients (63%) and nonrecipients (80%), Democrats (73%), independents (72%), and Republicans (83%) in agreement that the government’s war on poverty hasn’t worked.
70% of Americans Say Government Should Try to Eliminate Causes of Poverty Rather Than Increase Welfare Benefits
Americans would rather direct resources toward addressing the root causes of poverty than expand the scope of welfare programs. Seventy percent (70%) think it’s better to spend money trying to “eliminate the causes of poverty,” and 29% would rather allocate more resources directly to the poor to help them “get back on their feet.”
Majorities of welfare recipients (59%), previous recipients (71%), and nonrecipients (72%) would prefer government focus its efforts on reducing the causes of poverty rather than expanding benefits. However, welfare recipients are more likely than nonrecipients to prefer government transfer money directly to them (41% vs. 27%).
25% of Americans Favor Cutting Government Food Assistance to the Poor
Few Americans support cutting government financial assistance to the poor. For instance, only 25% favor cutting government spending on food assistance to low‐income people, while 41% favor increasing it and 33% would keep spending about the same.
65% of Welfare Recipients Say Most Recipients Would Rather “Earn Their Own Living”
A majority (54%) of Americans believe that current welfare recipients would “rather earn their own living,” and 45% think they’d “rather stay on welfare.”
But what do current welfare recipients say? Nearly two‐thirds (65%) of current welfare recipients say that most poor people receiving welfare benefits today “would rather earn their living,” and 34% think recipients would “prefer to stay on welfare.” In contrast, nonrecipients are evenly divided with 50% thinking welfare recipients would rather earn their living and 48% thinking they’d prefer to stay on welfare.
71% of Americans Say They Volunteered or Donated to Charity in Past Year
Nearly three‐fourths (71%) of Americans say that in the past year they volunteered their time or donated money, food, or clothing to charity or a community group. About a quarter (28%) neither volunteered nor donated to charity.
80% of Americans Say Hard Work Is Its Own Reward
Many may remember a weekend afternoon of chores or yard work when their parents insisted: “hard work is its own reward.” Although few know the origins of this saying, the survey set out to find how many Americans endorse the principle that work contains inherent value. Eighty percent (80%) of Americans agree that “hard work is its own reward.”
Americans Most Likely to Agree Poor Choices and Drug Abuse Cause Poverty
When asked about the top three causes of poverty in this country, Americans agree that poor life choices (42%) and abuse of drugs and alcohol (40%) are key. But the public is divided about what the third factor is: about 3 in 10 think lack of job opportunities (29%), breakdown of families (29%), and a lack of work ethic (29%) are some of the most important reasons. After that, about a quarter say that a lack of educational opportunities (27%), discrimination like racism and sexism (25%), and an unfair economic system (22%) are the primary causes. Fewer say that government programs fostering dependency (14%), inadequate government programs (13%), lack of role models (8%), or a lack of delayed gratification (7%) are the most important causes of poverty in the United States.
Ideological Divide Similar to attitudes about wealth, conservatives tend to believe that poverty is mainly the result of bad personal decisions. Liberals, on the other hand, tend to believe that poverty is mainly the result of external forces that individuals cannot control.
When asked the top three reasons for the continuing problem of poverty in the country, strong liberals selected discrimination like racism and sexism (51%), an unfair economic system (48%), and lack of educational opportunities (48%). Strong conservatives have a different perception. Instead, they believe poverty is caused primarily by poor life choices (60%), lack of work ethic (52%), breakdown of families (47%), and abuse of drugs and alcohol (47%).
AEI and the Los Angeles Times – 2016 Poverty Survey
More than 30 years after the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Los Angeles Times (LA Times) teamed up to release a landmark opinion survey on poverty, AEI and the LA Times have joined forces again to release an important new study on the same subject. The findings demonstrate that there are striking similarities between the 1985 and 2016 responses on some questions and substantial differences in others.
Over the summer of 2016, a survey was taken of 1,202 adults, of which 235 were in poverty as of the survey date. Key results are shown below.
Click here for full survey.
Personal responsibility:
In 1985, two-thirds of the public endorsed the view that “people are responsible for their own well-being and they have an obligation to take care of themselves.” The same is true in 2016. In 1985, 24 percent chose the alternative: “The government is responsible for the well-being of all its citizens and it has an obligation to take care of them.” In 2016, 29 percent endorsed that view.
Work requirement:
87% of American adults and 81% of those in poverty favor requiring poor people to seek work or participate in a training program, if they are physically able to do so, in return for benefits. 9% of adults and 13% of those in poverty favor sending benefits to the poor without asking for any effort in return. The balance had no opinion.
Purpose of Welfare:
58% of American adults and 55% of those in poverty believe the main purpose behind welfare is to help poor people get back on their feet again. 38% of American adults, and 39% of those in poverty, believe the purpose is to provide for the needs of poor people while they are poor. The balance had no opinion.
Government impact:
34% of American adults and 40% of adults in poverty believe that government efforts have made things worse for the poor. 13% of adults and 12% of adults in poverty believe government efforts have had no impact on the poor. Therefore about half the people in the nation, including those in poverty, believe that government programs have made things worse or had no impact on the poor.
43% and 34% of those in poverty believe the government has had some impact and 5% and 8% of those in poverty believe government efforts have had a big impact. The balance had no opinion.
Poverty programs:
56% of Americans and 42% of those in poverty believe that when poverty programs failed it was primarily because they were not well designed. 20% and 29% of those in poverty, believe it was because not enough money was spent to make them successful. 17% and 23% of those in poverty believe it was because the benefits never got to the poor people. The balance of people had no opinion.
Finding work:
57% of American adults and 71% of those in poverty believe it is very hard for poor people to find work. 39% of adults and 25% of those in poverty believe jobs are available. The balance of people had no opinion.
The work ethic of the poor:
65% of American adults and 72% of those in poverty, believe most poor people are hard-working. 21% of adults and 21% of those in poverty believe most poor people do not work very hard. The balance had no opinion.
Poll: Work Requirments and Government Spending
[Foundation for Government Accountability]
Welfare: The poll found that 75% of likely voters support requiring able-bodied adults with no children at home to work, train, or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week as a condition of eligibility for cash welfare benefits. 17% were opposed, and 7% were unsure.
Medicaid: The poll found that 70% of likely voters support requiring able-bodied adults with no children at home to work, train, or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week as a condition of eligibility for Medicaid. 22% were opposed, and 8% were unsure.
Public Housing: The poll found that 75% of likely voters support requiring able-bodied adults with no children at home to work, train, or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week as a condition of living in taxpayer-funded public housing. 17% were opposed, and 8% were unsure.
March 22, 2023
Click Here for the full survey
Poll: America Speaks: Do they think the American Dream is Attainable?
[YouGov.com]
Half (54%) of Americans think the American Dream is attainable for them personally, according to a YouGov poll conducted in July 2020.
How attainable, if at all, do you think the American Dream is for you personally? (%) US Adults:
Very attainable – 25%
Somewhat attainable – 31%
Don’t know – 8%
N/A – There is no such thing as the American Dream -9%
Somewhat unattainable – 17%
Very unattainable – 11%
YouGov>com June 30 – July 1, 2020
Click here for the full survey
Americans Offer Gloomy State of the Nation Report [Gallup]:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans’ satisfaction with a variety of aspects of U.S. society and the state of policy in key issue areas remains subdued in 2022 after falling in 2021.
The nation’s efforts to deal with poverty and homelessness rate a low 21%, the lowest ranking on the list of 21 policy areas.
GALLUP – February 2, 2022
Click here for the full survey
Public Priority – 2023 [Pew Research]
Pew Research Center. February 3, 2023
Click here for the full survey
Most Say Homelessness Made Worse By Actions of Some Cities, States[Rasmussen Reports]:
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online poll finds that 55% of American Adults think government policies and practices encourage increased homelessness in some cities and states more than others. Just 16% disagree, while 29% are not sure.
March 5, 2020
Click here for the full survey
Americans believe too many dependent on government for financial aid [Rasmussen Reports]
Fifty-four percent (54%) of American Adults still think there are too many dependent on the government for financial aid, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey. But that’s down from 61% in January of last year and a finding that had run in the mid-to-high 60s for several years prior to that. Thirteen percent (13%) say there are not enough Americans getting government aid, while 19% say the level of dependency is about right. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.
July 25, 2019
Click here for the full survey
61% Think Too Many Are Dependent on Government Aid [Rasmussen Reports]:
With a number of states planning ways to tighten their Medicaid and food stamp rolls, Americans continue to believe that too many count on the government for cash and that government welfare programs hurt more than they help.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 61% of American Adults think there are too many Americans dependent on the government for financial aid. That’s up from 55% in March of last year after running in the mid-to-high-60s over the previous four years.
January 18, 2018
Click here for the full survey
64% Say ‘Yes’ To Work Requirements For Medicaid Recipients [Rasmussen Reports]:
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 64% of American Adults think that childless, able-bodied adults in their state should be required to work as a condition for receiving Medicaid. Just 22% disagree, while 14% are not sure.
January 17, 2018
Click here for the full survey
Few Support Free Money Program to Combat Poverty [Rasmussen Reports]:
To combat poverty, a California city has launched a pilot program in which some residents will receive $500 per month with no strings attached. But nearly half of Americans wouldn’t welcome such a program in their area. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 34% of American Adults favor establishing a so-called Universal Basic Income program in their own community. Forty-eight percent (48%) are opposed, while 18% are not sure.
July 13, 2018
Click here for the full survey
Most Favor Drug Testing of Food Stamp, Welfare Applicants[Rasmussen Reports]:
Wisconsin is moving forward with a plan to drug test some food stamp recipients, and most voters nationwide would like to see a similar plan in the state they live in. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters believe any American applying for food stamps in their state should be drug tested. Just 31% disagree.
December 13, 2017
Click here for the full survey