social security

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A government program that provides economic assistance to persons faced with unemployment, disability, or agedness, financed by assessment of employers and employees.
• noun The economic assistance provided by social security.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun A system whereby the state either through general or specific taxation provides various benefits to help ensure the wellbeing of its citizens.
• noun Those benefits paid under such a system.
• noun US A specific such social benefit providing income in retirement or disability.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun social welfare program in the U.S.; includes old-age and survivors insurance and some unemployment insurance and old-age assistance