means test
1
4.2
- noun
- /miːnz tɛst/
- Formal
:
prueba de recursos
- To qualify for financial assistance, you must first pass the means test that evaluates your income and assets.
Examples
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The primary impact of the means test, according to some experts, has been to make the bankruptcy process more difficult.
Academic text (2007) -
SS has always had a means test built into the payments schedule.
Blog text (11) -
The Ministry of Health is responsible for nursing homes, with payment based on a means test.
Academic text (2008) -
Yes... except that the tax increase was a cut in benefits via a disguised means test.
Blog text (23) -
The bill contains a rebuttal to this means test application when a court finds special circumstances.
Academic text (2017) -
With respect to the means test, the conference committee stated in its joint explanatory statement as follows:
Academic text (2017) -
Courts disagree about whether the means test applies to a case filed under another chapter and converted to Chapter 7.
Academic text (2017) -
The result of the means test and the audit requirement will be more work for the courts, says Gerdano.
Academic text (2001) -
Even among those who pass this means test, Grameen targets the poorest families first.
Academic text (1998) -
But the new policies expanded eligibility for loans by lifting the means test and virtually ending any limit on how much can be borrowed.
Academic text (1998)
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'means test' is directly compositional: 'means' (financial resources) + 'test' (examination) yields an examination of financial resources. This is a transparent, cross-linguistically common construction (e.g. 'prueba de medios'/'test de moyens'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Means test comes from the simple idea of checking someone's means, that is their 'money' and the things they have, by giving them a test or check. That's why today means test means an official check to see if someone can get 'help' or benefits.