The Welfare State (pg. 687-710)

Question 1

contributory programs

Answer 1

social programs financed in whole or in part by taxation or other mandatory contributions by their present or future recipients

Question 2

Social Security

Answer 2

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

Question 3

indexing

Answer 3

periodic process of adjusting social benefits or wages to account for increases in the cost of living

Question 4

cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)

Answer 4

changes made to the level of benefits of a government program based on the rate of inflation

Question 5

Medicare

Answer 5

a form of national health insurance for the elderly and the disabled

Question 6

noncontributory programs

Answer 6

social programs that provide assistance to people on the basis of demonstrated need rather than any contribution they have made

Question 7

Medicaid

Answer 7

a federally and state-financed, state-operated program providing medical services to low-income people

Question 8

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Answer 8

the largest antipoverty program, which provides recipients with a debit card for food at most grocery stores; formerly known as food stamps

Question 9

in-kind benefits

Answer 9

noncash goods and services provided to needy individuals and families by the federal government

Question 10

entitlement

Answer 10

a legal obligation of the federal government to provide payments to individuals, or groups of individuals, according to eligibility criteria or benefit rules

Question 11

equality of opportunity

Answer 11

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