What’s the difference between a universal program and a ‘means tested’ one?

Think of it this way: Medicare and Social Security are universal programs. And because we all have a stake in them and they are broadly utilized, they’re protected from budget cuts. Even Donald Trump ran on protecting them.

Means tested programs only benefit people who qualify. The problem is, it’s impossible to come up with a perfect formula for who is in need. And because in California the cost of living is much higher than in other parts of the country, when the same standard is applied to families here and families in cheaper parts of the country, many California families who need assistance are left behind. Means tested programs, like SNAP, also tend to have their funding cut by Democrats and Republicans alike.

But can’t we save money by only giving assistance to those who need it most?

Theoretically, means testing excludes people who don’t need assistance. In reality, it often excludes the most vulnerable poor, who aren’t always able to jump through the required hoops to prove their eligibility. Means tested programs also cost significantly more to administer. Instead of wasting money on bureaucracy, we should invest in programs that benefit all of us.