Summary

Income security is the assurance of regular and adequate resources, whether through employment or some other source. Employment alone does not meet all needs, so one way to view the United States’ social welfare system is as a vehicle for income security. The United States faces several challenges, however, including economic inequality, growth in precarious working conditions, and a population that is changing demographically. The United States also has a complex set of regulations and social welfare programs to address income security, but the programs are usually conditional, and while they have had some successes, they do not provide income security for all. The U.S. system also contrasts with other developed nations in important ways. Debates over guaranteed income programs and the experience of the social welfare expansions of the COVID-19 pandemic offer potential lessons for future developments.