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▪ I. benefit ben‧e‧fit 1 [ˈbenfɪt] noun
1. [countable] a good effect or advantage that something has, for example a product or service:
• We will focus our marketing message on the environmental benefits of the product.
• The system offers real benefits to the consumer.
2. [countable, uncountable] money provided by the government to people who are old and no longer work, or to people who are unemployed, ill, or on a low income etc;
= welfare AmE:
• the number of people out of work and receiving benefit
• Two thirds of lone parents on benefit receive income support.
ˌaccident and ˈhealth ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money paid by a government or insurance company to people who are not able to work because of an accident or an illness
ˈchild ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money provided by the government to parents of children until they reach the age of eighteen, or nineteen if they remain in full-time education
disaˈbility ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money provided by the government to people who need extra help or cannot work because they cannot use part of their body properly
ˈhousing ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money given by the government to people who have no job, who have a low income, or who are sick to help them pay for somewhere to live:
• You might be entitled to housing benefit.
incaˈpacity ˌbenefit also invaˈlidity ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
names used at different times in Britain for benefits received by those who are too ill to work:
• In 1995, sickness benefit and invalidity benefit were merged to form incapacity benefit.
maˈternity ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money paid by the government or an employer to a woman when she has a baby:
• In order to claim maternity benefit, you need to have worked for at least two years and 16 hours each week.
• Maternity benefits are being offered by some companies.
ˈsickness ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money paid, especially by the government, to someone who is too ill to work:
• She is entitled (= has an official right ) to receive State Sickness Benefit from the Department of Social Security.
• Denmark has made cuts in sickness benefits.
ˌstate ˈbenefit [countable usually plural]
money provided by the government to people who are old and no longer work, or to people who are unemployed, ill, or on a low income etc:
• One in five pensioners rely entirely on state benefits for their income.
unemˈployment ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable]
money paid regularly by the government to people who do not have a job; = unemployment compensation AmE:
• How long have you been receiving unemployment benefit?
ˈwelfare ˌbenefit [countable usually plural]
money provided by the government to people who are old and no longer work, or to people who are unemployed, ill, or on a low income etc:
• Full details of welfare benefits for elderly people are published each April by Age Concern.
3. [countable] INSURANCE money paid out on certain insurance policies, especially health insurance:
• In the event of a justified claim, permanent total disablement benefit will be payable from the date of the claimant's disablement.
ˈdeath ˌbenefit [countable, uncountable] INSURANCE
a single sum of money paid by an insurance company to the relatives of someone who has died:
• Relatives of the deceased employees did not receive the expected death benefits even though the insurance company had paid out the cheques to the fund.
4. [countable] HUMAN RESOURCES something, especially money, that an employer gives to workers in addition to their normal pay, to encourage them to work harder or be satisfied where they work:
• The company offers an excellent salary and benefits package, including relocation costs.
things that are offered to the employees of a company in addition to their normal pay, such as company cars, loans at low rates of interest, and the possibility of buying shares
an additional advantage or service given with a job besides wages.
pension S, company cars, and loans at low rates of interest are examples of fringe benefits;
= PERK:
• A competitive salary with fringe benefits will be offered.
[m0] ▪ II. benefit benefit 2 verb
1. [intransitive] to get help or an advantage from something:
• The taxpayer benefits because we do not have to borrow public money from the Treasury.
benefit from
• This sector will benefit from lower borrowing costs.
2. [transitive] to give someone help or advantage:
• The increase in house prices in the past 30 years has mainly benefited the comfortably-off.
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Ⅰ.
benefit UK US /ˈbenɪfɪt/ noun
► [
C] »
The discovery of oil brought many benefits to the town.
get/receive the benefit (of sth) »
Who received the benefit of the spending?
»
To get the full benefit, this plan should be viewed as a long-term investment.
reap the benefits (of sth) »
The industry is reaping the benefits of an increase in consumer confidence.
economic/financial/environmental/health benefits »
The town is already receiving the economic benefits of the new shopping centre.
»
a long-term/short-term/immediate benefit
»
an added/additional benefit
► [
C or
U]
GOVERNMENT,
FINANCE »
As an unemployed mother, you can claim benefits.
»
I'm on benefit at the moment.
»
unemployment/disability/housing benefit
»
a benefit claimant
► [
C, usually plural]
HR »
For working parents, childcare can be one of the most valuable employee benefits a company offers.
»
The company offers a generous benefits package that includes private healthcare and a free on-site gym.
► [
C]
INSURANCE »
Last year, the UK insurance industry paid out nearly £188 million every day in pension and life insurance benefits.
»
50 is the earliest age the law allows people to receive their pension benefits.
»
His wife will receive his full benefits when he dies.
→
See also ACCELERATED DEATH BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
accelerated death benefit),
ACCIDENT AND HEALTH BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
accident and health benefit),
ACCRUED BENEFITS(
Cf. ↑
accrued benefits),
CHILD BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
child benefit),
COST-BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
cost-benefit),
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS(
Cf. ↑
cost-benefit analysis),
DEATH BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
death benefit),
DEFINED-BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
defined-benefit),
DISABILITY BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
disability benefit),
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
employee benefit),
FLEXIBLE BENEFIT PLAN(
Cf. ↑
flexible benefit plan),
FRINGE BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
fringe benefit),
HOUSING BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
housing benefit),
INCAPACITY BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
incapacity benefit),
INDUSTRIAL INJURIES BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
industrial injuries benefit),
MATERNITY BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
maternity benefit),
SICKNESS BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
sickness benefit),
SOFT BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
soft benefit),
STATE BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
state benefit),
TAXABLE BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
taxable benefit),
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
unemployment benefit),
WELFARE(
Cf. ↑
welfare),
WELFARE BENEFIT(
Cf. ↑
welfare benefit)
Ⅱ.
benefit UK US /ˈbenɪfɪt/ verb (-t-, -tt-)
► [
I] »
Investors will benefit because our advisers will be able to offer high quality advice.
benefit from sth »
Many oil companies benefited from the rising price of crude oil.
► [
T] »
The new travel scheme, offering free travel, benefits people over the age of 60.