Public Assistance
Public Assistance Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THIS GREAT WELFARE GAME?
- HOW DOES A PLAYER WIN THIS GREAT WELFARE GAME?
- HOW MANY MONTHS (TIMES AROUND THE BOARD) CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE GAME?
- HOW DOES THE GAME BEGIN?
- WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING OUT AND TAKING IN THE MONEY?
- HOW DO ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENTS RECEIVE THEIR MONTHLY GRANTS?
- IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT MAY HAVE?
- WHO PAYS THE MEDICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BIRTH OF THESE ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN?
- WHEN DOES A PLAYER ON THE ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT PROMENADE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN CRIME?
- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT IS CAUGHT IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND SENT TO JAIL?
- WHEN MAY AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT PLAY THE HORSES OR THE DAILY LOTTERY?
- WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT LANDS ON THE BLOCK MARKED "CHEAT! MOVE TO ANY BLOCK ON WELFARE ON NEXT TURN."?
- WHAT HAPPENS IF A PLAYER ON THE ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT PROMENADE RUNS OUT OF MONEY?
- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT IS DIRECTED TO "GET A JOB"?
- HOW DO WORKING PERSONS GET PAID?
- WHEN MUST A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT GET A UNION JOB?
- WHEN MUST A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT GO INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF?
- WHEN MAY A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT PLAY THE HORSES OR THE DAILY LOTTERY?
- WHAT HAPPENS IF A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT RUNS OUT OF MONEY?
- WHEN IS A BENEFIT OR A BURDEN CARD DRAWN?
- HOW DOES AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT OR A WORKING PERSON MANAGE TO GET A GOVERNMENT JOB FOR HIS LIVE-IN OR SPOUSE?
- WHEN AND HOW DOES THE GAME END?
- WHO DOES OR DOES NOT PAY TAXES AT THE END OF THE GAME?
- WHO IS THE WINNER?
- OPTIONAL RULES AND IDEAS
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THIS GREAT WELFARE GAME?
A game board, 4 playing pieces, 4 identical pieces representing each respective player's live-in or spouse, a set of cardboard pieces representing illegitimate children, a set of 4 cardboard markers to use on the small row of twelve blocks In front of each player on the board to keep track of the number of months played, 3 dice, a set of Working Person's Burden cards, a set of Welfare Benefit cards, a set of bank notes, and a supply of play money.
HOW DOES A PLAYER WIN THIS GREAT WELFARE GAME?
The winner is the player who accumulates the most money (after taxes) in the number of months (times around the board) played.
HOW MANY MONTHS (TIMES AROUND THE BOARD) CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE GAME?
Twelve times for two players makes a good game, six times for four players, but the players may agree on any number of months to be played to suit themselves before the game begins. Each player must keep track of his own circuits around the board on either the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade or the Working Person's Rut with the markers provided.
HOW DOES THE GAME BEGIN?
Each player begins on the larger block marked 1st of Month, and receives his first welfare allowance of $500. Three dice are rolled on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade to determine the number of blocks advanced each turn. High roll of the dice determines which player goes first.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING OUT AND TAKING IN THE MONEY?
One of the players is designated as the Custodian of the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. It is that player's responsibility to pay out and receive money as directed by the rules, blocks, and cards drawn.
HOW DO ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENTS RECEIVE THEIR MONTHLY GRANTS?
Each time a player makes it to the 1st of Month, or passes it, he receives his basic monthly grant of $500, plus $200 for his first illegitimate child, and $100 for each additional illegitimate child (these figures include a cash equivalent for food stamps and medical expenses), plus the amounts specified by any Welfare Benefit cards he may have drawn.
IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT MAY HAVE?
No. It is possible, though improbable, to land on 16 "Have Illegitimate Child" blocks in two trips around the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade. 16 illegitimate children may be uncommon, but not unheard of. A welfare recipient in Baltimore, for example, is on record as having 22 illegitimate children, all by the age of thirty-two! And in turn, some of her illegitimate children now have illegitimate children of their own.
WHO PAYS THE MEDICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BIRTH OF THESE ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN?
Players in the Working Person's Rut. Each time an able-bodied welfare recipient lands on an "Have Illegitimate Child" block, each player in the Working Person's Rut must pay that player $50.
WHEN DOES A PLAYER ON THE ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT PROMENADE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN CRIME?
When that player lands on one of the four "Saturday Night" blocks on the board. On that same turn, the player must roll all the way through that particular "Saturday Night" criminal activity track, rolling one die at a time, following the instructions on the individual blocks.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT IS CAUGHT IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND SENT TO JAIL?
That player moves directly to the "lock-up" block in the Jail Jaunt and awaits his next regular turn, upon which he rolls one die, and one die on each subsequent regular turn while he is in jail. Should a player on the Jail Jaunt be directed to go back on welfare, he moves directly to the first of the month and collects all benefits, advancing his monthly marker as well. A player in jail may not bet the horses or play the daily lottery.
WHEN MAY AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT PLAY THE HORSES OR THE DAILY LOTTERY?
At the beginning of each regular turn on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade, each player may play either the horses or the daily lottery. To bet the horses, the player first selects the number of his horse (2 thru 12), lays his bet (up to $500) on the board, and rolls two dice. The Custodian of the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars collects the bet if the player's horse does not win, or pays the player five times the amount of his bet if his horse wins. To play the daily lottery, the player announces his selected number (111 thru 666), places his bet (up to $500) on the board, and rolls three dice. The Custodian of the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars collects the bet if the player's number does not come up, or pays the player ten times the amount of his bet if his number does come up.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT LANDS ON THE BLOCK MARKED "CHEAT! MOVE TO ANY BLOCK ON WELFARE ON NEXT TURN."?
That player, on his next turn, moves to any other block of his choice on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade, including the four "Saturday Night" blocks; and, if he passes the 1st of Month in so moving, collects all accumulated benefits, and advances his monthly marker.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A PLAYER ON THE ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT PROMENADE RUNS OUT OF MONEY?
That player loses one turn, returns to the first of the month, and receives a $250 emergency welfare grant, and awaits his next turn (this trip to the welfare office does not count as a time around the board).
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT IS DIRECTED TO "GET A JOB"?
That player moves to the Working Person's Rut, and turns in all of his illegitimate children, and all of his accumulated Welfare Benefit cards. Three dice are rolled each turn to move in the Working Person's Rut.
HOW DO WORKING PERSONS GET PAID?
Each time a Working Person lands on or passes a block marked "Pay Day", he collects $150. Should a Working Person land on a block or draw a card directing him to move to another block in the Working Person's Rut, and in so doing the player passes one or more pay days, the player collects $150 for each of those pay days passed.
WHEN MUST A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT GET A UNION JOB?
When he lands on a block so marked or draws a "surprise" Burden card to that effect. On that same turn, the player rolls all the way through the Union Job blocks, rolling one die at a time, following the instructions on the individual blocks.
WHEN MUST A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT GO INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF?
When he lands on a block so marked or draws a "surprise" Burden card to that effect. The same movement rules as for "Union Job" apply.
WHEN MAY A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT PLAY THE HORSES OR THE DAILY LOTTERY?
A player in the WORKING PERSON'S RUT does not have time to go to the race track, and works too hard for his money to squander it on the lottery.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A PLAYER IN THE WORKING PERSON'S RUT RUNS OUT OF MONEY?
That player may borrow any amount in even thousands from the Custodian of the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars at 50 per cent interest.
WHEN IS A BENEFIT OR A BURDEN CARD DRAWN?
When a player lands on a block marked "BENEFIT" or "BURDEN". Most cards call for an Immediate payment or action. These cards should then be placed on the bottom of the stack. Some Benefit cards, as Indicated, are to be kept by the player for collection each time he reaches or passes the 1st of Month, as long as he remains on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade.
HOW DOES AN ABLE-BODIED WELFARE RECIPIENT OR A WORKING PERSON MANAGE TO GET A GOVERNMENT JOB FOR HIS LIVE-IN OR SPOUSE?
By landing on a block marked "Gov't Job" or drawing a Welfare Benefit Card or "surprise" Burden card to that effect. At that time, the player moves his second identically colored piece to the starting point on the Government Cake Walk, rolls one die, one time, and moves accordingly. A player may again roll for his or her live-in or spouse only when he or she rolls doubles or triples on another regular turn, or again lands on a square marked "Gov't Job", or again draws a card so marked. If a player's live-in or spouse lands on the "Conscience Stricken" block on the Government Cake Walk, he or she is removed from the board, and the player awaits a further opportunity to get another government Job for his live-in or spouse.
WHEN AND HOW DOES THE GAME END?
When the first player has moved around the board the number of months agreed upon at the beginning of the game.
WHO DOES OR DOES NOT PAY TAXES AT THE END OF THE GAME?
Those players on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade at the end of the game pay no taxes. Those players who complete the game in the Working Person's Rut pay taxes according to the following schedule:
| MONEY TOTAL | PERCENT TAX |
|---|---|
| $0 to $4,999 | 10 percent |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 20 percent |
| $10,000 to $19,999 | 30 percent |
| $20,000 to $34,999 | 40 percent |
| $35,000 and above | 50 percent |
WHO IS THE WINNER?
The player with the most money, after taxes.
OPTIONAL RULES AND IDEAS
THE BUMP RULE
Players may decide that when a player lands on a block on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient's Promenade or in the Working Person's Rut already occupied by another player, that player is "bumped" to the nearest "Get A Job" or "Go On Welfare" block, respectively. This optional rule is recommended for a more exciting game.
PLAYERS TAKING BETS ON THE HORSES AND DAILY LOTTERY
Players with sufficient money may elect to take the race track and daily lottery bets of other players. In that case, the player taking the bets follows the same procedure as would apply if the Custodian of the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars were taking bets.
ADDING MORE REALISM
Two players may decide to take this great game to the waiting room of their local welfare office and invite two real life able-bodied welfare recipients to join them in the game while they are waiting for their food stamps and welfare checks.