social security

American  

[soh-shuhl si-kyoor-i-tee] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl sɪˈkyʊər ɪ ti /

noun

1. Usually Social Security a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.

2. the theory or practice of providing economic security and social welfare for the individual through government programs maintained by funds from public taxation.

---

social security British  

noun

1. public provision for the economic, and sometimes social, welfare of the aged, unemployed, etc, esp through pensions and other monetary assistance

2. (often capitals) a government programme designed to provide such assistance

---

Etymology

Origin of social security

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Your taxable income in retirement affects how much you pay for Medicare and how much of your Social Security is taxed.

From MarketWatch

In the Help Me Retire column Alessandra Malito answered this question to help a 66-year-old reader receiving Social Security disability payments understand how to maximize her retirement benefits.

From MarketWatch

It is also clear that households’ attempts to protect themselves against specific risks, such as a cut in Social Security benefits, can harm them.

From MarketWatch

The survey explored both how the participants perceived the nature and severity of the risk regarding Social Security, Medicare and fiscal policy, and how they might act to hedge the risk.

From MarketWatch

And long-term trends in Medicare and Social Security financing had become more concerning.

From MarketWatch