social safety nets
Government support programs
Social safety nets are government programs that protect people from economic hardship—unemployment insurance, food assistance, housing subsidies, disability payments, and similar support systems.
The metaphor suggests catching those who fall on hard times before they hit bottom.
The pandemic exposed gaps in our social safety nets.
Often shortened to safety nets.
- food stampsSubsidized grocery purchasing vouchers
- government assistanceState-provided support for citizens
- welfareComfort and prosperity
- unemployment benefitsState aid for jobless workers
- universal basic incomeGuaranteed payments to all
universal healthcare · pensions · means tested · low income · progressive taxation · housing assistance · basic needs · survivor benefits · lifeline · last resort · disability insurance · rainy day fund · economic security · public housing · Medicaid · poverty alleviation · helping hand · family allowances
- social welfarewelfare state, welfare checks, welfare benefits, unemployment benefits, food stamps
- economic stimulusstimulus, stimulus package, stimulus packages, fiscal stimulus, economic relief
- Indigenous WelfareIndian Act, residential school survivors, tribal courts
social safety netsneoliberalism
Pro-market, anti-regulation ideology
trickle-down economics · Reaganomics · laissez-faire economics · rugged individualism · small government
social safety netsnoblesse oblige
High rank requires benevolence
charitable giving · mutual aid societies · mutual aid · family support · religious charity
social safety netspoor laws
Legislation for destitute aid
debtors' prison · at-will employment · no safety net · survival of the fittest · poorhouse
social, safety, society, associate, association, sociable, associated, socialism, antisocial