Social work and social policy as an area of social security

Abstract

The essence of social security is the legally guaranteed guarantees of obtaining support from public administration institutions in situations where there are insufficient financial resources to meet needs, inability to perform social roles, in the case of unemployment, disability, old age, illness and other life risks. These events also constitute a catalogue of granting social assistance/aid. The above‑mentioned threats to social security arise as a result of many causative factors, the collective name of which can be included in the category of a social issue – a phenomenon expressing “critical states and situations in the lives of individuals and entire communities”, conditioning the limitation or complete “blocking of the possibility of satisfying basic life needs”. Unmet needs therefore cause a perceptible state of lack, which, growing and generates, generates difficult life situations that threaten the sense of social security and give rise to threats or anxiety. The modern state is an essential guarantor of security, including social security, which is connected with the creation of a development framework for citizens e.g. through an adequate social policy, the aim of which is to improve the material situation, protect against life risks and equalize life chances of the economically and/or socially weakest groups of society.