I've been poor, desperately poor, poor enough to roll pennies to buy antibiotics for my third child every time he got a new ear infection.
At that time, I didn't have a cell phone. I didn't drink alcohol. I didn't smoke. I didn't use illegal drugs. I didn't get manicures or tattoos. (I didn't get food stamps or any other welfare, either.)
My kids didn't have the best of the best, but they did have 3 meals a day, clothes, shoes, bikes, toys, and a game deck. They got birthday and Christmas presents. They earned allowances and saved for things I couldn't afford to buy them.
I absolutely agree with the OP. If welfare recipients can afford drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, manicures and tattoos, they don't need to be on welfare. They need to grow up and pay their own bills.