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Social Programs

Vox's home for examining the state of social security, Medicaid, Medicare, welfare, food stamps, and more.

How America fails children

By Dylan Scott

The Democratic plan to smash poverty for seniors and people with disabilities

By Dylan Matthews

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We can end America’s unemployment nightmare

The problem with our social safety net is clear. The solution is, too.

By Emily Stewart

The future of the economy hinges on child care

By Anna North

Obama’s message to young people of color: “I want you to know that you matter”

By Nicole Narea

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Chris Hughes wants another chance

The multimillionaire Facebook co-founder is the latest moneyed titan to turn philanthropist, and has even called for Facebook’s dismantling. Can he really make a difference?

By Dylan Matthews

Why so many people who need the government hate it

By Sean Illing

Study: Trump is scaring immigrant families away from food stamps

By Dylan Scott

Why capitalism won’t survive without socialism

By Sean Illing

Paying disabled workers less than minimum wage is legal in the US. Alaska has now banned it.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell

How big data is helping states kick poor people off welfare 

By Sean Illing

The future of work is the low-wage health care job

By Soo Oh

Why a conservative health care wonk thinks the AHCA is indefensible

By Sean Illing

Report: Trump wants his son's wedding planner to oversee federal housing programs

By Dylan Scott

To save the welfare state, liberals need a new narrative about personal responsibility

By Sean Illing

Here’s what you have to earn to be considered low-income in the US

By Soo Oh

How to prevent teen pregnancies? Start with a robotic pelvis.

By Byrd Pinkerton and Sarah Kliff

Republicans are floating a tax reform plan that could threaten Social Security

By Dylan Scott

Republicans are making the American Health Care Act even crueler to Medicaid recipients

By Dylan Matthews

I've served more than 15,000 Meals on Wheels. It's about way more than food.

By Justin Zarb

Critics of the NEA often say its funding is welfare for rich, liberal elites. They're wrong.

By Alissa Wilkinson

Paul Ryan says he’s been “dreaming” of Medicaid cuts since he was “drinking out of kegs”

By Matthew Yglesias

If Sean Spicer talked to someone on Medicaid, he’d probably find out they love it

By Julia Belluz

Trump promised not to cut Medicaid. His health bill will cut $880 billion from it.

By Andrew Prokop

The Republican plan to slash Medicaid, explained

By Dylan Matthews

The evidence is clear: people with Medicaid are better off than those without

By Julia Belluz

“It’s the right thing to do”: why GOP state legislators are fighting to expand Medicaid

By Sarah Kliff

Today in Obamacare: an interview with the Harvard researcher who found Medicaid saves lives

By Julia Belluz

53% of Republicans don’t know repealing Obamacare repeals the Medicaid expansion

By Ezra Klein

Today in Obamacare: the big hurdle to block-granting Medicaid — explained by a GOP legislator who wants to do it

By Sarah Kliff

Trump: I'll protect Social Security. Trump's budget director: Maybe not.

By Dylan Matthews

Donald Trump’s plan to cut Medicaid spending, explained

By Sarah Kliff

Republicans have a clear plan to cut Medicare — but they may not go through with it

By Sarah Kliff

Senate Democrats are spoiling for a Medicare fight they may not get

By Matthew Yglesias

States are using welfare money to fund anti-abortion propaganda

By Emily Crockett

The freedom lover's case for the welfare state

By Will Wilkinson

Lillie Harden was Bill Clinton’s welfare reform success story. Welfare reform failed her.

By Victoria M. Massie

Hillary Clinton lobbied Congress to pass welfare reform. Now she barely tries to defend it

By Dylan Matthews

The Weeds: Welfare policy is hard. Welfare politics may be even harder.

By Jeff Stein

Maine’s governor is threatening to take food stamps away from 190,000 people

By Dylan Matthews