Welfare reform is a movement for policy change in countries with a state-aministered social welfare systems. Welfare reform is a movement to change a government's social welfare policy with aims at reducing recipient dependence on the government. Members of the movement often act based on fears of a government Welfare State. Proponents of welfare reform posit that welfare programs, as they stand, act counterproductively towards their stated goals by perpetuating poverty through creating dependence on the government.