SOCIAL SERVICES BEFORE 1942

1908, Old Age Pensions Act. People aged over 70 were entitled to a small pension, providing their income fell below prescribed levels.

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT Compulsory health insurance for all workers aged 16-70, who earned less than £160 per year. Costs were met by a fund collected by insurance companies or trade unions not the state. The worker could claim sick pay during illness and free treatment from a GP. Flat rate contributions were taken from the employer, the worker and the government.

The Act also provided insurance against unemployment in building, engineering and shipbuilding trades. Unemployed workers could claim benefit for 15 weeks in any one year. However, not all workers were insured. No dependants were included. Medical provision did not cover any hospital treatment.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACTS Extended the provisions of the 1911 act to cover more groups of workers, everyone earning less than £250 per year. Extended the period of time benefit could be claimed to two periods of 16 weeks in one year. Further payments were made for the dependants of those out of work.

1925 Old Age Pensions Act. This increased national insurance contributions in return for a pension to bridge the gap until a person reached 70. Provided allowances for widows and their dependent children.

In general more people could claim benefits. It is clear that between the wars the central government was taking a much greater responsibility for social welfare.

Several problems remained….. Poverty was a major problem. One third of all working class families were at or below the poverty line. Workers received free treatment from a GP but their wives and children did not. Benefits were often means-tested. The whole system was complex and confusing.