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| Any of a number of individual benefit programs, such as social security, that require government to provide a designated benefit to any person who meets the legally defined criteria for eligibility. |
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| The idea that all individuals should be given an equal chance to succeed on their own. |
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| A government benefit that is a cash equivalent, such as food stamps or rent vouchers. This form of benefit ensures that recipients will use public assistance in a specified way. |
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Definition
| The requirement that applicants for public assistance must demonstrate they are poor in order to be eligible for the assistance. |
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| The philosophical belief that government governs best by staying out of people's lives, thus giving individuals as much freedom as possible to determine their own pursuits. |
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| The philosophical belief that government intervention is necessary in order to enhance personal liberty & security when individuals are buffered by economic & social forces beyond their control. |
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Term
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| As defined by the federal government, the annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an urban family of four, multiplied by three to allow also for the cost of housing, clothes, & other expenses. Families below the poverty line are considered poor & are eligible for certain forms of public assistance. |
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| A term that refers to social welfare programs funded through general tax revenues and available only to the financially needy. Eligibility for such a program is established by a means test. |
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Term
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Definition
| Social welfare programs are based on the "insurance" concept, requiring that individuals pay into the program in order to be eligible to receive funds from it. An example is social security for retired people. |
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