🫘Intro to Public Policy Unit 9 – Social Welfare: Poverty, Security & Income

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Social welfare encompasses programs, policies, and services designed to promote the well-being and quality of life for individuals and communities
• Poverty refers to a state of lacking sufficient financial resources to meet basic needs (food, shelter, healthcare)
  • Absolute poverty measures a fixed level of deprivation, while relative poverty compares income to the median of a population
• Income inequality describes the uneven distribution of wealth and income among individuals or households within a society
• Social security includes government-sponsored programs that provide financial assistance and insurance to protect against economic risks (unemployment, disability, old age)
• Means-tested welfare programs provide benefits to individuals or families based on their income and assets falling below a certain threshold
• Entitlement programs guarantee benefits to all eligible individuals who meet specific criteria, regardless of income (Medicare, Social Security)
• Poverty thresholds are the minimum income levels used to determine poverty status, which vary by family size and composition

Historical Context of Social Welfare

• Early social welfare efforts in the U.S. were primarily led by private charities and religious organizations in the 19th century
• The Great Depression of the 1930s led to the establishment of federal programs (Social Security Act of 1935) to address widespread poverty and unemployment
• President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" in the 1960s expanded social welfare programs (Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps)
• The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 introduced significant welfare reforms, emphasizing work requirements and time limits on benefits
• Globalization and economic shifts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have contributed to changing patterns of poverty and inequality
• The 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession highlighted the importance of social safety nets and sparked debates about the role of government in addressing economic hardship

Causes and Impacts of Poverty

• Structural factors (lack of access to education, discrimination, limited job opportunities) can perpetuate cycles of poverty across generations
• Individual circumstances (health issues, family instability, substance abuse) can increase the risk of falling into poverty
• Poverty has far-reaching consequences on health outcomes, with lower-income individuals experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases and shorter life expectancies
• Children growing up in poverty are more likely to face developmental challenges, lower educational attainment, and reduced future earnings potential
  • Exposure to toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have long-term impacts on physical and mental health
• Concentrated poverty in certain neighborhoods or regions can lead to social isolation, limited access to resources, and higher crime rates
• Poverty places a significant burden on healthcare systems, as low-income individuals are more likely to rely on emergency services and have unmet medical needs
• The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and pushed more individuals and families into poverty due to job losses and economic disruptions

Income Inequality and Distribution

• Income inequality is typically measured using the Gini coefficient, which ranges from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality)
• The U.S. has one of the highest levels of income inequality among developed nations, with the top 1% holding a disproportionate share of wealth
• Factors contributing to rising income inequality include globalization, technological advancements, decline of unions, and changes in tax policies
• The concept of social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to move up or down the socioeconomic ladder relative to their parents
  • Countries with higher income inequality tend to have lower rates of social mobility
• Income inequality can lead to social and political instability, as well as reduced economic growth and consumer spending
• Redistributive policies (progressive taxation, minimum wage laws, social welfare programs) aim to reduce income inequality and provide a safety net for lower-income individuals

Social Security Programs

• Social Security is a federal insurance program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible individuals
  • Benefits are funded through payroll taxes, with employers and employees each contributing 6.2% of wages (as of 2021)
• Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as some younger individuals with disabilities
  • Part A covers hospital stays, Part B covers outpatient care, and Part D provides prescription drug coverage
• Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health insurance to low-income individuals and families
  • Eligibility criteria and covered services vary by state, but all states must cover certain mandatory benefits (inpatient hospital care, physician services)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides cash assistance to low-income individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal block grant program that provides financial assistance and work support to low-income families with children
• Unemployment insurance provides temporary financial support to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own

Welfare Policies and Reforms

• The Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, established in 1935, provided cash assistance to low-income families with children
• Critics of AFDC argued that it created disincentives to work and encouraged long-term dependence on welfare
• The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 replaced AFDC with TANF, introducing work requirements, time limits, and greater state flexibility
  • TANF emphasizes "welfare-to-work" policies, requiring recipients to engage in work activities as a condition of receiving benefits
• The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families, designed to encourage work and reduce poverty
• Child care subsidies and job training programs are important components of welfare-to-work strategies, helping recipients overcome barriers to employment
• Debates surrounding welfare reform often center on the balance between providing a safety net and promoting self-sufficiency, as well as the effectiveness of work requirements and time limits

Challenges in Implementation

• Fragmented delivery systems and lack of coordination among various social welfare programs can lead to inefficiencies and gaps in coverage
• Stigma and lack of awareness can prevent eligible individuals from accessing benefits, particularly for means-tested programs
• Administrative burdens (complex application processes, frequent recertification requirements) can create barriers to participation
  • Streamlining eligibility determination and utilizing technology can help reduce these burdens
• Inadequate funding and resource constraints can limit the reach and effectiveness of social welfare programs
  • Block grant funding structures can lead to disparities in benefit levels and eligibility criteria across states
• Balancing program integrity with accessibility is an ongoing challenge, as efforts to prevent fraud and abuse can inadvertently exclude eligible individuals
• Addressing the unique needs of specific populations (immigrants, individuals with disabilities, homeless individuals) requires targeted outreach and tailored approaches

Future Trends and Debates

• The aging of the population and increasing life expectancies will place greater demands on Social Security and Medicare, raising concerns about long-term sustainability
  • Proposals to address these challenges include raising the retirement age, increasing payroll taxes, and means-testing benefits
• Technological advancements (automation, artificial intelligence) are likely to disrupt labor markets and potentially exacerbate income inequality, necessitating new approaches to social welfare
• The growing gig economy and non-traditional work arrangements pose challenges for existing social insurance programs based on traditional employer-employee relationships
• Universal basic income (UBI) has gained attention as a potential alternative to means-tested welfare programs, providing a guaranteed income to all citizens
  • Proponents argue that UBI could reduce poverty and provide a buffer against job displacement, while critics raise concerns about cost and work disincentives
• Addressing the social determinants of health (housing, education, transportation) will require greater collaboration across sectors and a more holistic approach to social welfare
• Climate change and environmental justice issues are likely to disproportionately impact low-income communities, necessitating targeted interventions and adaptation strategies