public assistance
16
2.5
- noun
- /ˈpʌblɪk əˈsɪstəns/
- Formal
:
asistencia social
- " Did you, Madam, receive public assistance for the month of March?
- receive public assistance
- public assistance program
- families received public assistance
So we have a situation, as we did recently here in California, where it turned out that people were could take their sort of food stamp and public assistance kind of ATM cards.
- So we have a situation, as we did recently here in California, where it turned out that people were could take their sort of food stamp and public assistance kind of ATM cards.
Examples
-
Worse yet, the system provides few opportunities for people on public assistance to reciprocate through work.
Academic text (1996) -
I went on public assistance.
-
However, the contact person stated that all clients were receiving some type of public assistance.
Academic text (2005) -
Africa will develop through the work of its inhabitants and will become less dependent on public assistance for development.
-
All subjects were from low-income families who received some form of public assistance.
Academic text (1993) -
However, nearly one-third of the women received some form of public assistance in the year before study participation.
Academic text (2008) -
For many frail elderly, however, public assistance is needed to make assisted living possible.
Academic text (1997) -
Families qualify for participation in this program if they are receiving TANF public assistance or providing documentation of low-income status.
Academic text (2005) -
A college education is positively correlated with earned income and negatively correlated with reliance on public assistance.
Academic text (2005) -
Many Americans who have never received public assistance before are now turning to food stamps.
Synonyms
∞
2.3
Money or help from the government for people in need
18
2.5
Government help for people who need money or basic services
1
3.2
Money the government gives to people or families who have little money
Antonyms
608
3.0
Freedom from control by others, for example when a country is free or a person supports themselves
How Much Support
- Formal
16
2.5
16
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'financial aid provided by the government' is directly derivable from combining 'public' (belonging to or provided by the public/government) with 'assistance' (support). This is a straightforward, compositional phrase found across languages (e.g. Spanish 'asistencia pública', French 'aide publique'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the government/welfare-support sense.
Etymology
Public assistance comes from the simple idea of the public (the community or government) giving assistance (help or money) to people who cannot pay for basics. That's why it means 'financial aid provided by the government'.