public assistance

American  

[puhb-lik uh-sis-tuhns] / ˈpʌb lɪk əˈsɪs təns /

noun

1. government aid to poor, disabled, or aged people or to dependent children, as financial assistance or food stamps.

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public assistance British  

noun

1. payment given to individuals by government agencies on the basis of need

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Other Word Forms

• public-assistance
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of public assistance

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public assistance

States consider whether recovering the Medicaid costs would cause the heir severe financial hardship, like leaving them destitute or forcing them to rely on public assistance.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Budget analysts have identified five categories that are driving up city spending: rental assistance, public assistance, the school system, city employee overtime and payments to the state-operated transit system.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

Meanwhile, low-income households that are eligible for public assistance with their home heating bills may not get that help until late December — after cold-weather demand begins.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2025

According to the National Association of Counties, 40 percent of home health aides live in low-income neighborhoods and rely on some form of public assistance; 30 percent of them are on Medicaid themselves.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2025

She called the welfare department to have the family’s public assistance cut off, and then reported the violation to the Housing Authority, starting the eviction process.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson