Welfare is an entitlement according to the Supreme court. Unfortunately. I remember asking my mother about this when I was still young. She said they tried to make folks work for welfare but then it happened..."Yes, the Supreme Court has ruled that welfare benefits are entitlements and are protected by the Constitution":

" Goldberg v. Kelly
In this landmark 1970 case, the Supreme Court ruled that welfare benefits are property and that recipients are entitled to a pre-termination evidentiary hearing before their benefits are discontinued. Justice Brennan stated that welfare benefits are a statutory entitlement for those who qualify to receive them. "

"Other federal entitlements include unemployment benefits, housing subsidies, and SNAP"

I absolutely hate welfare and what it has done.