Has American perception of government welfare programs changed since its inception?

I already read the thread concerning revamping the welfare system. I have several questions:
1. Is it more acceptable (in general not necessarily on a personal level) to be on welfare than it was when these programs started?
2. If so, would changing the perception of the people change how many people utilized the services for extended periods of time?
3. It seems some people do not realize they are using government services i.e. Medicaid, Section 8, food stamps. I do not know where they think the money is coming from; however, they genuinely seem surprised to find out these are forms of welfare. How can they be made aware? Or is it just a matter of changing the name?
4. Would limiting the amount of time a person can receive welfare decrease its usage? (Sort of how unemployment is limited.)

I saw a show once where an older gentleman, probably in his sixties or seventies, had used welfare for a time. After he had a job, he paid back every cent he had received; he even had a receipt to prove it. (How cool is that?) It made me start wondering about how it is no longer viewed by many as charity but as a right.