assistés

Assistés is a French sociopolitical label referring to people who receive state social assistance. As a noun, it can appear as "un assisté" or "des assistés," and as an adjective it describes individuals linked to welfare programs. The term derives from the concept of assistance and has historically carried connotations of dependency on the state.

In political discourse, assistés is often used by critics of the welfare state to describe a broad category of welfare recipients as a homogeneous group presumed to be passive or lacking initiative. The word is commonly regarded as pejorative and stigmatizing, which has led many to favor neutral terms such as bénéficiaires des prestations sociales (beneficiaries of social benefits) or allocataires (beneficiaries).

Context and policy considerations in France include a range of social protections, such as the Revenu de solidarité active (RSA), unemployment benefits, pensions, and family allowances. The label assistés can be applied loosely to various recipients of these programs, though it is contested in public debate. Proponents of welfare reform may use the term to emphasize perceived dependence and motivate policy changes aimed at promoting employment and autonomy. Critics argue that the term dehumanizes vulnerable populations and obscures structural factors driving poverty and unemployment.

The use of assistés varies across Francophone public discourse and media, and it is generally advised to employ neutral language in formal contexts. Related concepts include welfare state, social assistance, and beneficiary terminology.