Social services in Britain.

  • Great Britain. Central Office of Information. Reference Division.
Date:
1966
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Social services in Britain. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/132 (page 18)
    Britain and, in place of the various services for the relief of need previously provided from both central and local government funds, established for the first time a comprehensive State service of financial assistance according to need which is administered by the National Assistance Board. The parallel legislation in Northern Ireland made similar provision. Application to the board for financial assistance can be made, with certain exceptions relating to people in full-time work or involved in a trade dispute, by anyone over the age of 16 who is in need. The need for assistance is decided by reference to general standards (which are amended from time to time) laid down in regulations approved by Parliament. The regulations make special provision for higher rates for the blind and certain tuberculous people, and also allow the board’s officer to adjust the amount payable to suit the particular circumstances of every case. The board is responsible for influencing ‘persons without a settled way of living’ to lead a more normal life, and provides temporary accommodation for them in reception centres, sometimes through the agency of local authori- ties. For men who have been unemployed for long periods and who are in receipt of national assistance grants or are using reception centres, it runs two non-residential and two residential re-establishment centres where they are given help to fit them again for work.