Welfare is the provision of a minimal level of well-being and social support for all citizens, sometimes referred to as public aid. In most developed countries welfare is largely provided by the government, and to a lesser extent, charities, informal social groups, religious groups, and inter-governmental organizations.
In the Roman Empire, the first emperor Augustus provided the 'congiaria' or grain dole for citizens who could not afford to buy food every month. Social welfare was enlarged by the Emperor Trajan. Trajan's program brought acclaim from many, including Pliny the Younger. The Song dynasty government (c.1000AD in China) supported multiple programs which could be classified as social welfare, including the establishment of retirement homes, public clinics, and paupers' graveyards. According to Robert Henry Nelson, "The medievalRoman Catholic Church operated a far-reaching and comprehensive welfare system for the poor..."
In addition, welfare in North American English commonly refers to government-run social security programs, i.e. welfare programs or welfare payments, the financial safety net for the poor and needy. In the United States the term "welfare" has developed negative connotation due to its association with dependency. Examples of usage in this sense include:
Welfare state, the concept of government playing a key role in individual economic and social well-being
Welfare fraud, intentional misuse of welfare programs by providing false information
Welfare queen, a pejorative term for a person accused of collecting excess welfare payments
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A welfare check of two people lying down in a Prius resulted in their arrests Tuesday morning after police say they found a slew of drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, various pills and “219 wax baggies of Heroin.” ....
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has called for the removal of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) programs from the unprogrammed appropriations in next year’s budget, aiming to expedite assistance for Filipinos in need.
... responsibility of the society to take concrete measures for welfare of soldiers and veterans ... The Lt Governor highlighted various welfare programmes for the education of the children of veterans.
In a recent opinion piece ("When good intentions lay an egg,” Jan ... The question is no longer if the industry is going cage-free, but how to create a smooth transition for farmers and retailers while ensuring better animal welfare and food safety.