What Is Welfare?

Welfare is a common label attached to a range of goverꦰnment programs that assist individuals and families whose income falls below the poverty line. The programs provide health care, food subsidies, housing assistance, and child care assistance to those i♛n need.

The benefits vary by state. Most are funded by the federal government, which distributes money to the s൩tates through a program called T𒐪emporary Assistance for Needy Families (TARF).

Who Qualifies

Benefits vary by state, with eligibility based on the person’s financial status, family size, income, or an assessed disability. A caseworker may be assigned to determine and confirm the applicant's needs.

Qualification is based on the poverty line for each state and allows for adjustments based on the local cost of living. The government requires that individuals or families seeking assistance prove that their annual income falls below the federal poverty level (FPL).

As of 2025, the federal government has established the minimum poverty level at below $21,150 for a family of two, with higher rates up to four times that amount for some states.

Subsidized programs are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Federal law bans states from using grants to assist most legal immigrants unless they've resided in the country for five years or more. A valid 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Social Security Number (SSN) is required to obtain benefits. Individuals applying for welfare must meet their states' requirements as well as rules imposed by the federal government.

History of Welfare

The history of welfare programs in the United States is complex and controversial. In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson created anti-poverty programs including Head Start, food stamps, and Medicare. 🍰These programs were designed ꦆto fight what he called "the war on poverty" in America.

Former President Richard Nixon revised the program in 1969 with the Family Assistance Plan in 1969, which imposed work requirements and work incentives for beneficiaries.

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan cut welfare budget programs designed to help families and created "welfare to work" programs in 40 states.

Further legislation under President Bill Clinton in 1996 focused on limiting the length of time that people could receive benefits.

Then-President Joe Biden brought back no-strings-attached assistance to families with children in 2021, but only as a temporary measure while the COVID-19 pandemic was raging. Eligibility extended to families with incomes well above the poverty line but was phased out at higher levels.

Current Status of Welfare

The U.S. government currently assists people living below the poverty line mainly through a program known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TA💟NF).

The program mandates that all recipients find employment within two years 🐼or risk losing their benefits.

As of 2025, the federal government was expected to funnel about $16.7 billion to the states to pay for TANF assistance to their residents.

Types of Programs

In addition t꧙o TANF, the🌺 government has several programs that subsidize costs for low-income Americans. Income eligibility levels vary by program.

• Medicaid: Medicaid is a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:health insurance plan for those whose income falls below federal poverty standards. Pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, and aging adults who fall below certain income thresholds are guaranteed coverage under Medicaid. Medicaid enrollment increased under the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• SSI: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is administered by the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Social Security Administration (SSA). It provides public assistance to children and adults with disabilities including blindness, neurological challenges, respiratory disease, and failure to thrive.
• SNAP: Administered by the states, the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Supplement𝓀al Nutrition Ass🎃istance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides payments to low-income households to buy food. The Special Supplemental Food Program for 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Child Nutrition Program serve children. The Child Nutrition Program is an umbrella for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.
• CHIP: The Child’s Health Insurance Program is administered by the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖🎃结果体彩网:U.🌳S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It provides low-cost health care to children in households that don't qualify for Medicaid. This program covers benefits for children including dental care. Special needs assistance such as physical and occupational therapy provide a safety net for children in low-income homes.
• Housing Assistance: The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:housing choice voucher program helps families below federal poverty standards, people with disabilities, and aging adults access affordable and livable rental homes in safe neighborhoods. Vouchers are distributed by local public housing agencies that receive funding from the federally-run 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:U.S. Department of Ho꧑using and Urban Development (HUD) office. Families or individuals pay the difference between the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:market price of the rent and the amount subsidized by the voucher program.
  
• EITC: The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Earned Income Tax Credit (ETC) is a tax break for low to moderate-income individuals and families. For qualifying taxpayers with three or more qualifying children, the tax year 2025 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $8,046, an increase from $7,830 for the tax year 2024. 

The Bottom Line

The term welfare is not often used in recent years. The welfare system of the mid-20th century has been largely replaced by programs that target the essential needs of low-income individuals and families. F൲ood, medical services, and rent subsidies are available to those who qualify. Taxpayers fund these programs from which r🅷ecipients often receive biweekly or monthly payments in the form of vouchers or direct payments.