Safety Net. Broad set of welfare policies that make up the income-support system.
Section 8. Tenant-based assistance program that supplements what very low-income families and individuals can afford to pay for housing in the private market.
Secondary Disease Prevention. Secondary disease prevention is aimed at early detection and treatment of disease to slow or prevent its progression (e.g., screening to identify diabetics, drugs totreat high blood pressure). (See also Primary Disease Prevention)
Social Capital. Cooperative networks that permit individuals to work together for mutual goals.
Social Security Actuarial Balance. The difference between the present value of future benefits and the present value of future payroll tax revenues-generally measured as the percentage point increase in payroll tax necessary to close the gap for the next 75 years.
Spouse's Benefit. Monthly Social Security benefit paid to a spouse or divorced spouse, equal to one-half of the retired worker's PIA if the spouse starts making claims at the normal retirement age; the divorced spouse must have been married to the retired worker for at least 10 years to receive benefits.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). Social insurance that provides benefits to the disabled who qualify on the basis of years of work covered by social security.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Provides a floor of protection as cash for those who become disabled or reach age 65 and have very low incomes and assets.
Standard Deduction. A minimum deduction that may be taken in lieu of itemizing deductions on tax a return, such as charitable contributions, mortgage interest, or state and local taxes. Typically, taxpayers with small deductible amounts that could be itemized choose to take the standard deduction. There are different standard deductions for single, head of household, and joint returns.
Standardized Fiscal Health (SFH). Defined by Ladd and Yinger (Urban Change, 1991) as the difference between a city's revenue-raising capacity and its expenditure need expressed as a percentage of capacity; used to reveal the net effect of a city's economic, social, and demographic characteristics on the city's ability to deliver a standard level of public services at a standard tax burden on its residents.
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Grants to states to cover children with family incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or 50 percent above existing eligibility, whichever is higher.
Statistical Significance. A measure of the likelihood that a relationship would occur purely by chance. Thus, a statistical estimate of the effects of a program may be said to be significantly different from zero at the 5 percent level if there is less than a 1 in 20 chance that the effects could have occurred purely by chance.
Stop Loss. Cap on total out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures for which individuals are held liable. (Medicare does not currently offer such stop loss protection.)
Sunsets. Tax provisions slated in law to expire on a certain date unless legislation is passed extending them.
Superwaiver. Proposed mechanism that would lift statutory or regulatory requirements of multiple federal programs for low-income families (such as TANF and child care assistance) upon application by a state and approval by the secretary of the administering department(s). (See Waivers.)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program). A means-tested federal program that provides an electronic benefits card for food purchases. Benefits levels are the same across the country and depend on household size, income and nondiscretionary expenses. The SNAP does not pay for alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, pet food or hot food for immediate consumption.
Survivor Benefit. Monthly Social Security benefit paid to a survivor of a deceased insured worker.
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