Welfare system in america?

What is the system like over there? In australia we have a good system, mums get $3000 when a child is born, pensions for mums of up to $1000pf until the child turns 16, free health care and dental care, half price rego... also benefits for the unemployed of approx. $400pf (not much but it's reasonable) with no strict time limits. Do you have these benefits over there?
--------------------
We have people who are welfare and gov't handout dependent. Look at the example of New Orleans (if you got wind of the disaster last summer). Thousands of people were helpless unless the gov't would help them. The same gov't they swear is out to get them. I'll never understand the welfare state.
Source