Getzel: In the USA (I can’t speak for other countries), you don’t get welfare so easily. You need to show that you’re trying to earn money. If you’re unemployed, you need to be trying to find work. If someone said, “I don’t want to work, I just want the government to take care of me!” they wouldn’t get anything. Their children would, but not the adults. Yes, there are people who lie and take advantage of the system. But the rules are that you should be trying.
In Israel, many chareidim are open about the fact that they don’t want to even try and earn a living for themselves. Why should the government pay for someone who isn’t willing to help him/herself?