Final answer:
Means-tested benefits are indeed conditional on an individual's income being below a certain threshold, and they serve as an essential component of the government's economic safety net programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
A means-tested benefit is indeed a benefit for which eligibility is based on having an income below a specified amount, making option 'a' true.
Means-tested programs are a part of the government's safety net, designed to support individuals who are at or below the poverty line, as well as those with low incomes.
Programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and the earned income tax credit aim to provide relief and support to those in need.
These programs are tailored to reduce the impact of poverty by ensuring basic needs are met and are crucial in the fight against inequality and economic hardship.
A means-tested benefit is a benefit for which eligibility is based on having an income below a specified amount.
This statement is true.
Means-tested benefits are designed to help individuals and families with limited income.
Examples of means-tested benefits in the United States include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps).