years ago my mom said my only career option is welfare

Here in America we have many generations of welfare recipients who raise their kids to be welfare recipients as a "career path."

That's why some people have such an issue with it.

Welfare has a place, a good place as a stop gap measure, as a social security net for people in need, and it's important. I support it. But there needs to be measures in place so it doesn't become a "career" and people aren't being paid to use it that way.