Should it be harder or easier to receive government assistance?

Where you live, how difficult or easy is it to receive any type of government assistance?

Where I live, a lot of the population falls below the poverty level, so most people I know receive some sort of assistance. I'd say where I live it is fairly easy to qualify. However I have a friend who lives in another state and she says she doesn't qualify for any sort of assistance even though she only makes $3,500 a month and has two kids. They say she makes too much for assistance.

Do you think it should be harder or easier for people to qualify?