This chapter explores how social safety net programs shape family life through in-depth qualitative research conducted in Shanghai and Taipei, two dypical cities in China with differentiated welfare systems. By interviewing low-income families, the study investigates how welfare participation influences caregiving responsibilities, employment strategies, and social inclusion. The analysis distinguishes between familization policies, which reinforce family members’ obligations (e.g., means-tested cash transfers with low benefit levels), and defamilization policies, which relieve these obligations (e.g., child allowances or childcare services). Employment support programs are shown to have hybrid effects, simultaneously providing opportunities for social integration while reinforcing care-related constraints. Comparative insights between Shanghai and Taipei highlight the role of institutional design and cultural context in shaping welfare experiences. This chapter demonstrates that welfare participation is not only an economic transaction but also a deeply social and cultural process, influencing how families navigate the balance between care, work, and social belonging.