social security costs; social welfare spending
Refers to government expenditure on social security programs such as pensions, healthcare, and public assistance.
Social security costs are increasing year by year.
The government is considering cutting social welfare spending.
社会保障 refers to the social security system itself, while 社会保障費 specifically denotes the costs or expenditures associated with it.
Compound of 社会 (society), 保障 (security/guarantee), and 費 (cost/expense).