Chapter 17 Flashcards
Contributory programs
Social programs financed in whole or in part by taxation or other mandatory contributions by their present or future recipients
Social Security
A contributory welfare program into which working Americans contribute a percentage of their wages and from which they receive cash benefits after retirement or if they become disabled
Medicare
A form of national health insurance for the elderly and the disabled
Indexing
Periodic process of adjusting social benefits or wages to account for increases in the cost-of-living
Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)
Changes made to the level of benefits of a government program based on the rate of inflation
Noncontributory programs
Social programs that provide assistance to people on the basis of demonstrated need rather than any contribution they have made
Means testing
A procedure by which potential beneficiaries of a public-assistance program establish their eligibility by demonstrating a genuine need for the assistance
Medicaid
A federally and state-financed,
state-operated program providing medical services to low income people
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
The largest anti-poverty program, which provides recipients with a debit card for food at most grocery stores; formerly known as food stamps
In-kind benefits
Non-cash goods and services provided to needy individuals and families by the federal government
Entitlement
A legal obligation of the federal government to provide payments to individuals, or groups of individuals, according to eligibility criteria or benefit rules
Equality of opportunity
A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
