| Cases and Resources
Chapter 35: Government
Support for Families and Individuals
Economic Benefits
for Individuals and Families
Health Benefits
Educational Benefits
Economic
Benefits for Individuals and Families
Poverty
This site, from the United States Census, offers extensive
information and statistics on the American poor. Who are the
poor in this country?
Understanding
Social Security
Read this explanation of the Social Security program. Who
does Social Security help? How does it work?
Social
Security Reform
Have you ever heard someone on the news talk about “saving”
Social Security? There is a concern among many people that
the program needs changes. Read this report on Social Security
and what experts have to say. It is very important to understand
this issue, because it affects all of us!
Social
Security: The Debate
Read ideas on both sides of the Social Security reform debate.
With which side do you agree?
The
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996
Read a press release about the implementation of this law. This law changed the
number of children eligible for Supplemental Security Income
(SSI). How does this press release describe the law?
A
Comparison of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 and Prior Law
This chart compares the PRWOR Act with prior laws, such as
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Aid to Families
with Dependent Children (AFDC). How did the law change children’s
access to SSI?
Welfare
Reform Overview
Over the past decade, steps to reform the welfare system have
instigated great changes in welfare eligibility and steps
required to receive this assistance. Read how these changes
have led to changes in state welfare policies as well.
Welfare
Information Network: TANF
Learn about Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and what
this program means for families in need of financial help.
Welfare
Information Network: Food Stamps
Food stamps are coupons or a card (that looks like a credit
or debit card) issued to families with low incomes. Food stamps
help these families buy food. Take a closer look at how changes
in welfare policies have changed the availability of food
stamps.
Electronic
Benefits Transfer
The electronic transfer of benefits to those with low incomes
give the poor more convenience in collecting benefits and
buying food. Read about the program that all states are in
the process of implementing.
Earned
Income Tax Credits
Another method to help low-income families is through taxes.
The government gives tax advantages to poor families in an
effort to encourage them to work instead of collect welfare.
Do you think this program is a good one?
Welfare
Reform and Housing
Low-income families also have a difficult time finding and
paying for appropriate housing. Read about the assistance
offered by the federal government today for these families.
U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
This federal government agency works to provide housing to
the homeless and poor families of this country. Read about
the types of housing assistance that low-income families can
apply for to help with housing needs.
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Health
Benefits
The
Uninsured
Millions of Americans do not have health insurance. This is
a problem because, without insurance, the cost of obtaining
appropriate medical care can be too high for many people.
Learn more about the uninsured in this country.
Health
Issues: A Sourcebook
Read about the different facets of a massive healthcare industry.
What parts are government-led programs, and what parts of
the healthcare industry are mostly private? Click on the Medicare
and Medicaid links on the left side of the screen
to learn more about these programs.
Medicare
Learn what Medicare is, who is eligible for Medicare, and
what the program offers.
Medicaid
Take a closer look at what Medicaid is, who is eligible for
Medicaid, and what the program offers. Read how Medicaid benefits
may vary from state to state.
Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993
Read the text of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The law helps parents who want to stay home with new babies
or need to care for aging or sick relatives. If you are having
trouble understanding the text of the act, explore the FAQ page to understand the most important elements
of the law.
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Educational
Benefits
State
Compulsory School Attendance Laws
Every state has a law requiring children to attend school
until a certain age. Look at the chart and find your state.
What year was the law by which you must abide passed? How
does this compare to other states?
Local
and Federal Government Funding
The federal and state governments spend billions of dollars
a year on education. Look at this chart and compare the rates
of funding over the years.
Federal
Student Aid
There are many government and private aid programs for education.
Read about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid—FAFSA—the
first step for many students seeking financial aid at colleges
and universities.
The
Debate Over School Vouchers
The government can also offer state grants for education in
districts where the educational systems are failing. Read
about this debate and decide if the government is violating
the Constitution by offering grants that may be used in religiously-affiliated
schools.
School
Financing
The equality, or lack of equality, in funding public schools
is addressed in these two lengthy reports that explore the
financing of public schools in different states as well as
in neighborhoods within each state.
The
U.S. Department of Education
The federal government’s Department of Education is
the agency in charge of public education policy in the United
States. Browse through the site and read articles on how to
improve education, the agency’s position on controversial
issues, and profiles of schools around the nation.
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