social safety net

English

Noun

social safety net (plural social safety nets)

1. (politics, social policy) A set of governmental programs, entitlements, or benefits providing citizens and residents with a minimum level of financial protection, food, access to public infrastructure, or medical services.
   • 1982 May 3, “The White House vs. CBS”, in Time:

     CBS News used emotion-charged tales to make the case that some of the nation's truly needy are falling through the social safety net.

   • 2005 February 10, “Editorial: When Math Is Worse Than Fuzzy”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 July 2011:

     We can have a social safety net that protects our retired citizens from poverty and makes sure they can afford adequate health care.

   • 2007 January 26, Murray Waldman, “Rights are a gift from the good guys”, in Toronto Star, Canada, retrieved 24 July 2011:

     Canadians are happy to tell anyone who will listen what makes this country great is our safe streets, health care and social safety net.

Translations

government programs

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 社會保障網／社会保障网 (shèhuì bǎozhàng wǎng), 社会保障网 (shèhuì bǎozhàng wǎng)

• Finnish: sosiaalinen turvaverkko
• French: filet de sécurité sociale m
• Italian: ammortizzatori sociali (it) m pl

See also

• social security

References

• “social safety net”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.