Fed Gov (social Welfare)

Question 1

An estimated 45 to 50 million people in the United States (12 to 15 percent of the population) have incomes (above/below) the official poverty line—that is, their annual cash income falls (below/above) what is required to maintain a decent standard of living.

Answer 1

Below

Question 2

As of 2012, the official poverty level for a family of four in the United States was____ a year.

Answer 2

$20,000

Question 3

Less than one-third of federal social welfare spending is_______—that is, distributed on the basis of the recipient’s income.

Answer 3

means-tested- spending (have to show you are poor to qualify)

Question 4

The____ classes, not the poor, are the major beneficiaries of the nation’s social welfare system.

Answer 4

middle

Question 5

For these temporary poor,____ is a “safety net” that helps them through hard times.

Answer 5

welfare

Question 6

People that suffers from many social ills—teen pregnancy, family instability, drugs, crime, alienation, apathy, and irresponsibility.

Answer 6

Underclass

Question 7

The major social welfare programs can be classified as either

Answer 7

social insurance or public assistance.

Question 8

If the beneficiaries of a government program are required to have made contributions to it before claiming any of its benefits, and if they are entitled to the benefits regardless of their personal wealth

Answer 8

social insurance

Question 9

If the program is financed out of general tax revenues, and if recipients are required to show that they are poor before claiming its benefits—as in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid

Answer 9

public assistance (welfare)

Question 10

____ are governmental benefits for which Congress has eligibility criteria—age, income, retirement, disability, unemployment, and so on.

Answer 10

Entitlements

Question 11

temporarily replaces part of the wages of workers who lose their jobs involuntarily and helps stabilize the economy during recessions.

Answer 11

Unemployment Compensation

Question 12

is a means-tested, federally administered income assistance program that provides monthly cash payments to needy elderly (65 or older), blind, and disabled people.

Answer 12

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Question 13

provides low-income household members with coupons that they can redeem for enough food to provide a minimally nutritious diet. The program is overseen by the federal government but administered by the states.

Answer 13

Food Stamps (SNAP) program

Question 14

is designed to assist the working poor. It provides larger refunds than taxpayers actually paid during the previous tax year.

Answer 14

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Question 15

the nation’s largest organized interest group

Answer 15

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

Question 16

The dependency ratio for Social Security is the number of_____ as a percentage of the number of_____.

Answer 16

recipients, contributing workers

Question 17

is a two-part program that helps elderly and disabled people pay acute-care (as opposed to long-term-care) health costs.

Answer 17

Medicare

Question 18

The federal government provides funds under_____ to enable states to provide medical services for low-income persons. a welfare program designed for needy persons; no prior contributions are required, and the recipients of_____ services are generally welfare recipients.

Answer 18

Medicaid

Question 19

the federal government provides grants to the states to extend health insurance to children who would not otherwise qualify for Medicaid. The program is generally targeted toward families with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level. However, each state may set its own eligibility limits, and each state has flexibility in the administration of the program.

Answer 19

State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)