We talked about Modest Universal Transfers and Means-tested Assistance in class the other day and I have a much more clear understanding of what these terms mean now!
When a person gets "means-tested assistance," they somehow qualify for it, such as Medicaid. You need to have limited means in order to qualify for the assistance. Means-tested assistance is frequently associated with stigma because, well, if you're getting X assistance, then it's known you qualify for it by X means, as in, low income.
The discussion went on to point out that in order for people to qualify for the long-term care that is provided by Medicaid, they need to "spend down," by divesting of their savings and investments (home, properties, stocks, etc).
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Social Security, on the other hand, is not a means-tested assistance. It is an institution that goes to all who contributed to it. Often, women exit the workforce to raise children and therefore the Social Security program is a social policy structured against women.
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