Means testing is a process by which some service, benefit, or
assistance is provided only to those meeting certain criteria
that are considered to mark them as "in need" - that is to say,
aid is made conditional (tested ) upon whether the recipient
would otherwise have the means to pay for the services provided
by themselves. This term is usually used in relation to
government services, but this is more a function of the nature
of the modern welfare state than of the concept itself, and
means testing can just as easily be employed by charities and
private individuals or organizations. The example of means
testing that will be most familiar to many Americans is probably
that of college "need-based" financial aid , in which the
financial status of students and their families is taken into
account when awarding grants and loans, with more going to poor
students. Means testing might seem like an attractive option to
reduce the cost of major government social benefits programs
like health care or old-age pensions,