Welfare facts for kids

People waiting for relief checks during the Great Depression

Welfare is an idea from economics and Social Security. The idea is that everyone should have a minimal living standard. People who cannot reach this standard will be supported, usually by the state. Using welfare, everyone has their basic needs covered. This idea is different from the idea of charity.

Welfare can take different forms:

• Certain goods are subsidized by the state. In that way, in many countries the price of goods people need daily, such as bread or rice may be fixed by the state.
• A voucher is similar to a subsidy, except that it may only be used in a certain way. An example of this might be the cafeteria at the university; certain students get their meals cheaper, because they have a voucher. The cafeteria then exchanges the voucher, and will be paid the difference.
• It is also possible to pay money directly: people will then get a monthly amount of money. They can spend this money on anything, without restriction.
• Some countries need to have proof you applied for a job to receive welfare.

Welfare money is given by the government, charities, and other groups of people to help homeless, old, illness, poor, and disabled people (people who cannot help themselves), and also helps children (child support).

Welfare can also be called the well-being of someone or a group of people: their happiness, health, safety, and fortune.

In countries like Germany, Japan, United States, Sweden, and France, government welfare also is used to help the needy.

Related pages

• Social worker
• Right to an adequate standard of living
• Economic, social and cultural rights
• Welfare economics
• Welfare state

Images for kids

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  A family support centre in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, which provides assistance to families with children.

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  Distributing alms to the poor, abbey of Port-Royal des Champs c. 1710.

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  An office of the Social Insurance Institution (KELA) in Seinäjoki, Finland

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  President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, August 14, 1935.

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  A chart showing the overall decline of average monthly welfare benefits (AFDC then TANF) per recipient 1962–2006 (in 2006 dollars).

See also

In Spanish: Bienestar social para niños