04_Welfare_state_growing_despite_overhauls

welfare state

- The state is still the main provider of welfare benefits: we’re still living in a welfare state.

policy

- a new/official/controversial/conservative/zero-tolerance policy; a change of policy

aid

- first aid; public aid; legal aid
- → to aid sb/sth (v)

benefit

- unemployment/social security/maternity/tax benefit

recipient

- For people who have been welfare recipients for a long time it is often difficult to enter the job market again.

self-sufficiency

- ability to provide for oneself everything that is needed

low-paying job

- Many immigrants have to settle for low-paying jobs at first.
- ↔ well-paid job

proponent

- The proponents of the new immigration law stressed how much it would be needed in the coming years.
- ↔ opponent

food stamp

- government benefit for people with very low incomes, usually in the form of coupons or cards that can be used to get food at stores

health insurance

- The government wants to keep the cost of national health insurance in check.

labour force

- workforce

single-parent family

- ↔ two-parent family

needy

- being in need; poor

to offset sth

- to counterbalance
- Less and less children are being born, but immigration offsets this at the moment so that the total population remains stable.

decline

- gradual weakening
- → to decline (v)

to peak

- The unemployment figures peaked at 14 million last month, but now it should get better again.
- → peak (n)

dependent on

- The government wants to reduce the number of people who are dependent on welfare programs.
- ↔ independent from