How do you transfer welfare...?

I'm reading a news report on "Americans paying taxes" and felt confused with the following information:

The main difference between the US and other countries is that Americans transfer less money among themselves for such things as Social Security and welfare. Look at government purchases of goods and services, mainly salaries, and the picture changes. On this score, Americans are not undertaxed at all. They allocate about 18% of the nation's resources to government, similar to the share in many other countries...

How do Americans transfer money among themselves for such things as Social Security and welfare? And what about "government purchases of goods and services, mainly salaries". does it mean "buy salaries" or "buy in the form of salaries"?

Thx in Advc.