public assistance vs welfare

public assistance and welfare both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
public assistance	Yes	No	No	No
welfare	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, public assistance and welfare are synonyms defined as:

public assistance and welfare: governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need

Other synonyms of public assistance include social welfare.

public assistance (noun)	welfare (noun)
governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need	governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need
	something that aids or promotes well-being
	a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous