As a concept, a welfare state has existed since the end of the 19th century with is definition which implies well-being of a society. In the constitution of Croatia, as it si the case in other countries, the welfare state is mentioned as one of the foundations of the state , obut the ver definition is nota specified. In the example of the Republic of Croatia it is seen that the welfare state implies social security, which referes to numerous aspects of life of na individua- from motherhood, education, care, poverty, schooling and up to unemployment. All of the aforementioned aspects are regulated by many legal acts, but since 1970 there has been a crisis of the welfare state. This has been a period of questioning the social state and the crisis has been influenced by economic changes and the information revolution. Issues of the welfare state arise when it is not able to perform legally defined benefits toward its citizens. Activities of social policies are focused on so called secondary distribution of income. However, if one state has a population of mostly senior citizens, and less population of working age, a question arises whether the welfare state is sustainable or not. Therefore, the welfare state is not the same everywhere. Neither ideas of tasks and the role of the state regarding social security are always the same. And the state which knows how to deal properly with this crisis gets out of it stronger and wiser.