The Making Of Modern Britain #14: 5 Giants - Want Flashcards
When was the National Insurance Act
1946
What did the National Insurance Act 1946 require from workers?
Workers to pay national insurance each week:
- men: 14s 8d
- women and youths under 18 payed less
What did national insurance cover?
Sickness and unemployment benefits, gave workers an income if they could not work
this did not cover workers that were on strike
What grants were given as part of the National Insurance Act 1946?
- maternity grants
- death grants
- mothers for money for the birth of each child
What were the old age pensions as part of the National Insurance Act 1946?
- men from age 65
- women from age 60
People could continue work after this age, and around 2/3 of men did so
How was the National Insurance Act 1946 effective in preventing extreme poverty?
Huge numbers received money to supplement this
Why did some people complain about having to pay national insurance?
- It was around 5% of their wages
- low paid workers were concerned that this would mean they had less money to spend each week, especially if they never claimed any benefits
Who was excluded from national insurance?
- married women and self-employed people
- this undermined the universal ideas of the welfare state
Who missed out on the National Insurance Act 1946 because they couldn’t afford the contributions?
- unemployed
- low paid
- homeless
- disabled
Why was National Assistance 1948 introduced?
Because not all could afford to pay in to the National Insurance
What did the National Assistance 1948 end?
The Poor Laws
What was the main idea of the National Assistance 1948?
It gave government help to people even if the had not paid into the system through nation insurance
What did families need to do in or for to receive money from the National Assistance 1948?
Pass a needs tests in which they had to show how much money/ assets they had
What could families receive from the National Assistance 1948?
One-off or weekly benefits
What benefits were available under the National Assistance 1948?
- grants to pay for bedding/clothes
- regular payments: eg eligible married couples could get up to £2/week
Why were National Assistance 1948 benefits helpful to old people?
It helped those who did not qualify for a pension
What was the National Assistance 1948 good for?
- It established a minimum standard of living for everyone in history
- this fitted on the welfares state’s goals of having an equal and universal service
Why was means testing as part of National Assistance 1948 bad?
- not available to everyone
- some felt it was against the spirit of the welfare state
Some felt the National Assistance 1948 was unfair because:
Many complained that people had not paid anything wee receiving benefits
Why were some reluctant to claim the National Assistance 1948?
Many felt it was embarrassing
Why did some feel the National Assistance 1948 was not fully effective?
Benefits were set at too low a rate meaning some could not escape poverty
What did the 1946 Industrial Industries Act do?
Made workers pay into a scheme which gave them money if they were injured, including an early pension
What did the Family Allowances Act 1945 do?
Gave child benefit to families across Britain. All families with 2+ children were eligible to receive weekly payments from the government.
