Social Welfare Programs

Definition

Social welfare programs are government initiatives designed to provide financial or material aid to individuals or groups who cannot support themselves due to certain circumstances such as poverty, unemployment, or disability.

Related terms

Social Security Act: An act passed in 1935 that created several programs designed to provide aid for elderly, unemployed and disadvantaged Americans.

Medicaid/Medicare: These are two governmental programs that provide medical and health-related services to specific groups of people in United States.

Unemployment Insurance: A social welfare program that provides temporary income assistance for eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own.