Government programs that help people through hard times, like unemployment pay, food aid and health coverage.
The safety net includes programs like unemployment insurance, food assistance and Medicaid, meant to catch people who fall on hard times. People debate how big it should be and who should qualify.
"When the plant closed, many workers relied on the safety net for a few months."
Filed under money and the economy in the glossary, with every word used on How I Lean.
Nine questions, about three minutes, and you'll see where you lean.