While West Germany is an affluent society, it is also progressive in terms of its social weflare system. This country's constitution of May, 1949, known as The Basic Law, formed the foundation of the system that simultaneously guarantees human dignity and free personal development and promotes social justice and progress. A national economic policy, called the "social market economy," has also promoted the growth of the welfare system by stressing the principles of free competition, private ownership, the free use of private property, and private initiative and responsibility while at the same time requiring social obligations and responsibilities of property owners and employers and a government role in social security. Various branches of the social security system help protect people from major problems. This special report features key elements of the welfare system through individual case histories concerned with: (1) child and child-raising benefits; (2) the promotion of career training; (3) educational assistance; (4) medical insurance; (5) accident insurance; (6) maternity leave protection; (7) pension insurance; (8) disability rehabilitation; (9) welfare assistance; (10) welfare assistance for foreign residents; and (11) international social policy cooperation. A list of direct social welfare benefits paid during 1986 is included. (JHP)