What is Welfare?
[[File:Waiting for relief checks during Great depression.jpg|thumb|right|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 [[standard of living|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 (practice)|charity]]. Welfare can take different forms: *Certain goods are [[subsidy|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 [[meal]]s 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]], [[Charitable organization|charities]], and other groups of people to help [[homeless]], old, [[illness]], [[poverty|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 [[Luck|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]] {{stub}} [[Category:Human rights]] [[Category:Welfare econo