state benefitnoun [ plural or U ]
ukusGOVERNMENT, FINANCE money given by the government to people who are poor or ill, or who do not have a job:
on state benefit(s) They live on state benefits.
come off state benefit(s) More than a third of people with a disability or long-term illness want to work, yet only 5% of them come off state benefits each year to start jobs.
apply for/claim/receive state benefit(s) In Sweden, lone parents are required to be available for work if they receive state benefits.
qualify for/be eligible for state benefit(s) Many women earn too little to qualify for state incapacity benefit because they work part-time.