Public Assistance

Public assistance is the provision of a minimal level of social support for all citizens.

Learning Objective

Define and describe different types of public assistance

Key Points

Public assistance is provided by the government, charities, social groups, and religious groups. It is funded by government agencies and private organizations.
Public assistance systems vary by country, but welfare is usually provided to individuals who are unemployed, those with an illness or disability, the elderly, those with dependent children, and veterans.
Forms of public assistance include monetary payments, subsidies, vouchers, housing assistance, and universal healthcare.

Terms

public assistance
Payment made to disadvantaged persons by government in order to alleviate the burdens of poverty, unemployment, disability, old age, etc.
subsidy
Financial support or assistance, such as a grant.
voucher
A piece of paper that entitles the holder to a discount, or that can be exchanged for goods and services.

Full Text

Public Assistance

Public assistance, also referred to colloquially as welfare, is the provision of a minimal level of social support for all citizens. In most developed countries, public assistance is provided by the government, charities, social groups, and religious groups. It is funded by government agencies and private organizations.

Public assistance systems vary by country, but welfare is usually provided to individuals who are unemployed, those with an illness or disability, the elderly, those with dependent children, and veterans. Individuals must meet specific criteria to be eligible to receive public assistance.

In the United States, the funds for public assistance are given at a flat rate to each state based on population. Each state has to meet certain criteria to ensure that individuals receiving public assistance are being encouraged to work themselves out of welfare. The goal of public assistance is to support individuals who are in need of help while encouraging them to seek employment and better their lives.

Forms of Public Assistance

Public assistance is offered in a variety of forms including:

Monetary payments: individuals are paid bi-weekly or monthly based on their income level. Individuals must apply for monetary public assistance and meet specific criteria. Monetary payments will be lessened or stopped once the individual's income reaches a certain level. An example of monetary payments is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides a cash benefit to families in need.
Subsidy: government funded programs that provide assistance to citizens on federal, state, local, and private levels. Subsidies help to provide food, housing, education, healthcare, and financial support to individuals in need. Examples include Medicaid .
Vouchers: are bonds given out by the government or other welfare organizations. A voucher is worth a certain monetary value and can only be spent on specific goods .
Housing assistance: provided by the government to ensure that individuals have shelter. In some cases individuals will receive free housing while other will receive housing at a discounted rate. Housing assistance is based on an individual's level of income.
Universal healthcare: health care coverage that provides health care and financial protection to all citizens. It provides a specific package of benefits to all members of society with the goal of providing financial risk protection, improved access to health services, and improved health outcomes.

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