<prompt> Human: Im 18 going to college in the fall I live in the US and I was just wondering how does welfare work like is it just free money that I can take advantage of for no consequences or?  <response>: Welfare isnt just one thing. There are many different welfare programs that you need to meet different eligibility criteria in order to gain the benefit. The consequences are that when you actually meet the criteria to enroll in a welfare program, its generally not a good place in your life, and if you dont meet the criteria and lie about it to get the benefits, at best you have to pay them back and at worst you go to prison. 