family allowance

A family allowance helps support parents with the cost of raising children.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Government payment for families: "family allowance" refers to a regular payment made by the state to families with children, typically to help cover the costs of raising them. It is a form of social welfare benefit.
   • Financial support for dependents: In some contexts, it can also mean an allowance paid by an employer or an organization to an employee to support their family members.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The government increased the family allowance to help parents with the rising cost of living. (A regular state payment to families with children.)
  • She receives a monthly family allowance from her employer to cover her children's education expenses. (Financial support from an employer for dependents.)

Advanced Usage

• "to claim family allowance": to apply for and receive this benefit.

  • Many low-income families are eligible to claim family allowance. (They can apply for the state payment.)

• "family allowance system": the administrative structure that manages these payments.

  • The family allowance system was reformed to target the neediest households. (The system of distributing benefits was changed.)

Variants and Related Words

• Child allowance (n): a specific type of family allowance paid per child.

  • The child allowance is paid monthly for each child under 18. (A per-child payment.)

• Family benefit (n): a broader term for various state supports for families.

  • The family benefit includes both cash payments and tax credits. (A synonym for family allowance in some systems.)

Synonyms

• Child benefit: a regular payment to parents for each child.
• Family support: general financial assistance for families.
• Dependency allowance: a payment for dependents (often in military or employment contexts).

Related Idioms

• Live on the family allowance: to survive financially using only this benefit.
  • They managed to live on the family allowance during the father's illness. (They depended entirely on the state payment.)

Phrasal Verbs (None applicable)

• No common phrasal verbs directly use "family allowance" as a verb phrase.