Responses and Solutions to Poverty by Welfare Providers

Question 1

welfare state

Answer 1

.concerned w implementing social policies guaranteeing ‘cradle to grave’ wellbeing of the whole population and particularly the elimination of pov. unemployment, ill health and ignorance
.genderally implemented by taxation e.g. national insurance

Question 2

where does welfare in uk come from

Answer 2

.welfare state but can be proved by other groups - ‘welfare pluralism’ - refers to whole range of welfare provisions

Question 3

what doe some say about welfare pluralism

Answer 3

.some suggest its better at meeting the populations welfare needs due to diversity of providers of welfare services
.having a mixed econ. of provisions will increase competition which will improve the quality of services and give ppl more choice
.argue that many cant pay for private services leading to unequal access to care and 2 tier system of service

Question 4

what does welfare refer to

Answer 4

.cash payments by state to those out of work
.cash payment to the state to those in need
.social security (free healthcare, housing etc)
.all welfare provision

Question 5

how did the welfare state begin

Answer 5

.’42 w beverage report that aimed to eliminate pov, unemp, ill health and lack of ed.

Question 6

what assumptions was the beverage report based on

Answer 6

.full employment - variety of welfare benefits through social security and tax systems for unemployment, sick and disabled
.universal welfare
.free healthcare and education
.women should be concerned w house and childcare, then supporting through paid employment

Question 7

welfare provision today

Answer 7

.much of it still rests on assumption today despite the fact that many married women now also works outside the home and in paid employment

Question 8

the state

Answer 8

.paid for by taxation and provides welfare benefits w some being means-tested (related to ppls income) while others being universal (available to all)
.provides a comprehensive and largely free nhs
.free and compulsory ed.
.social services - social workers, residential and community care facilities etc - provided by local councils

Question 9

advantages of state

Answer 9

.has secure funding so cannot fall - provides safety net for when other services fall or sectors don’t provide service - funding more secure
.delivers more comprehensive services - provides basis for client need, regardless of costs rather than generating profit for shareholders in private companies

Question 10

how can the state sector be held accountable

Answer 10

.more easily held accountable for their failings since theyre funded by the gov
.services vulnerable to political pressures if they don’t perform well - can benefit those in need of service

Question 11

informal sector

Answer 11

.provided informally and free by family, friends and neighbours e.g. caring for sick, elderly and emotional support
.women make up 73% of ppl receiving carers allowance
.saves uk econ. £119 billion per year

Question 12

voluntary sector

Answer 12

.non-official, non-profit-making org. often charities, neither created or controlled by gov
.staffed by salary members and funded by public grants, donations or sale of services to the state

Question 13

voluntary vs state

Answer 13

.try to fill up gaps left by the safety net provided by the state by providing help and info areas where state assistance is too little/non existent

Question 14

strengths of voluntary sector

Answer 14

.combined w higher levels of expertise, cheaper than state or private sector
.more able to respond to meeting ppls needs the more centralised sector
.better understanding of ppls needs and are able to respond and provide support in specialised areas where state pension may be under pressure, inadequate or non existent

Question 15

limitations of voluntary sector

Answer 15

.has seen huge financial pressures - often lack adequate funds to be as effective as they might otherwise be, do not exist in all areas that are needed

Question 16

voluntary sectors and pressure groups

Answer 16

.org. that try to put pressure on those w power in society to implement policies in. their favour
.play major role in highlighting weaknesses from welfare state and keeping problems in public eye

Question 17

private sector

Answer 17

.both profit and non-profit businesses from which in. purchase welfare services
.also involved in delivering and managing some public welfare provision e.g. employment schemes to move ppl from welfare to work

Question 18

what does the private sector do

Answer 18

.provides services at lower and offering more choice bcs it consists of businesses that have to compete for customers and provide decent care if they survive in face of competition
.new right see sector as more efficient and effective due to competition

Question 19

what is an issue with the private sector

Answer 19

.acces only available to those that can afford it - issue as poor may not be able t get the same services from the state
.those who can afford it can ‘queue jump’ - can see nhs consultant privately and pay to be top of list for free nhs surgery
.operates in a fairly unregulated market - may fail as companies go banckrupt

Question 20

why are private welfare providers necessary

Answer 20

.to make profits and remain competitive with other private companies - may mean cost cutting takes higher priority than the quality of services provided, clients may suffer

Question 21

what do marxists believe about welfare state and wc

Answer 21

.welfare state buys off of wc protest by reducing risks to social order and political stability caused by unrest and protest against extreme pov. and inequality in health

Question 22

what do marxists believe about the welfare state - labour force

Answer 22

.keeps lab. force healthy and effective to the benefit of ruling class - can go to healthcare to get better so can work again
.keeps workforce efficient and trained and gives an illusion of a stake in society

Question 23

what does marxists believe about welfare state - capitalism

Answer 23

.attempts to make capitalist system, thats based off of inequality, exploitation and conflict appear caring and just

Question 24

what do marxists believe ant welfare

Answer 24

.its a form of social control - an attempt to keep workforce efficient and trained and to keep the capitalist system stable

Question 25

what do feminist believe about the welfare state

Answer 25

.supports the patriarchy - inadequacy of welfare state in meeting the needs of women
.benefits system favours workers who’ve paid in - disc. against women who take time off for childcare

Question 26

what do feminists believe abt welfare state - assumptions

Answer 26

.assumes women are housewives and take on caring roles - beverage report made this assumption when it was created
.women financially supported by men

Question 27

social democratic view on welfare state

Answer 27

.gov should be responsible for social welfare and for action to eliminate problems (unemp. pov. care)
.origins of welfare state stem from this view - foundation of it based on principle of universalism w welfare available to all at times of need

Question 28

social democratic view - social inequality

Answer 28

.wealth and income shouldn’t be redistributed through taxation w benefits and welfare available to all to reduce social ineq. and tackle pov. - only state has power t provide these resources
.social ineq. threatens stability of society w only the state having resources to combat this ineq.

Question 29

social dem view - benefits

Answer 29

.should be available to all (universal) a means tested benefits can cause a stigma that prevent ppl from claiming them
.important bcs important levels of care of elderly, children being provided for free by women - also discourages ppl from taking low paid jobs when it becomes available (pov trap)

Question 30

social dem view on welfare state - what it acts to help

Answer 30

.acts to help social cohesion - free ed. pensions, health - all help promote a less divided soc and more cohesion
.brings together econ benefits through an employed, healthy, well qualified workforce

Question 31

new right view on welfare state

Answer 31

.in. should have high to choose welfare from all those competing in welfare market and should take responsibility themselves for obtaining it, mainly though private sector
.developed in govs ‘79-‘97 - aimed to make ppl more self-reliant

Question 32

new right view on welfare state - dependancy

Answer 32

.generosity of ‘nanny state’ undermines personal responsibility and self help - Maryland and Murray argue that its created a dependancy culture and work shy underclass
.undermines importance of support from families and encourages lone parenthood

Question 33

new right view on state - private

Answer 33

.welfare services better quality when not provided by state - private organisations competing or charity, voluntary or family
.taxation can be kept lower if welfare provided privately (national ins.) and kept lower, shouldn’t be wasted on providing welfare benefits/healthcare to those that are able to support themselves

Question 34

new right view - benefits

Answer 34

.state benefits should be restricted to only the v poor _means tested) and those unable to work through sickness, disability
.rest of pop. should provide own services by buying them

Question 35

social democratic gov policies

Answer 35

.lead from Bev. report - include policy to provide, as a right, welfare services, universal benefits and social protection during periods of insecurity at the best level possible
.unemp. benefit, nhs, house-building

Question 36

eval of social dem gov policies

Answer 36

.dont necessarily reduce problem or relative pov - Kincaid argues that these develops. were inadequate as benefits were ‘pitifully low’ and ‘left millions in pov’ - harsher elements of absolute may have been reduced but rel. pov. was still at large
.Abel-smith and Townsend - rel. pov still maj. issue in br. in 1960s