All articles tagged with #social benefits
President Trump is selectively keeping certain parts of the government operational during the shutdown, such as military pay and social benefit programs, to mitigate political fallout as the shutdown continues into its third week.
The recent tax bill passed by President Trump is projected to benefit higher-income households significantly, with the top decile gaining an average of $12,044 annually, while the lowest-income households are expected to lose an average of $1,559 per year, according to the Congressional Budget Office, which also highlighted potential impacts on social benefits for certain low-income groups.
The recently passed 'Big, Beautiful Bill' by President Trump is projected to benefit higher-income households significantly while causing some losses for the lowest income groups, particularly those in the bottom three deciles, due to impacts on social programs and tax changes. The bill is expected to increase household resources for the top decile by over $12,000 annually, whereas the lowest decile could lose around $1,559 per year, with effects lasting until 2034.
Democrats are furious over the passage of Donald Trump's budget bill, criticizing it for favoring billionaires, cutting social benefits like Medicaid and food assistance, and increasing national debt, while Republicans defend the bill as necessary fiscal policy. The bill's passage has intensified political tensions ahead of the midterm elections.
Swiss voters approved a plan to raise pensions, marking the first time in the country's history that social benefits received an increase through a plebiscite. The proposal to introduce a 13th annual payout to pensioners was supported by 58.2% of the electorate, while a second initiative to raise the retirement age was rejected. The approval, which will increase pensions by about 8%, is set to send the government scrambling to find the estimated additional annual cost of 4.1 billion Swiss francs, likely requiring an increase in value-added tax.
France's Constitutional Council has rejected more than a third of articles in a controversial immigration bill, including measures toughening access to social benefits, family reunification, and immigration quotas. The bill, initially presented by President Emmanuel Macron's government, faced criticism for contentious additions made under pressure from the political right and far right. The ruling was welcomed by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin but slammed by the far-right National Rally party, which called for a referendum on immigration as the "only solution." The United Nations special rapporteur on racism also criticized the bill, saying it violates France's constitutional commitment to equality and liberty.
China's migrant workers, who played a crucial role in the country's economic rise, are now facing limited options as jobs become scarce. With flimsy social benefits and a lack of access to health insurance, unemployment, and retirement benefits, these workers have little to fall back on. As the real estate and infrastructure construction sectors struggle, migrant workers are among the most vulnerable groups in China's economic downturn. Returning to their villages to farm is not a viable option due to limited land and low income. The future looks uncertain for these workers, who often lack retirement plans and rely on their families' meager pensions.