Labour Reforms - The Welfare State 1945-1951Reforms to address want

National Insurance Act 1946

The successes of this were:

• it provided payments during unemployment and sickness - workers received 26 shillings a week or 42 shillings for married men
• the elderly received pensions

The limitation of this was:

• it did not provide for those members of society who were not in work and had not made contributions

Industrial Injuries Act 1946

The successes of this were:

• it provided payments for those who were temporarily absent from work, due to injury
• it provided payments for those absent long-term

The limitation of this was:

• compensation was paid by the government not employers - this meant that the government footed the bill for injuries at work

National Assistance Act 1948

The successes of this were:

• it provided payments for the unemployed or those who had not paid enough contributions into the National Insurance scheme
• it provided for the elderly who had not been paying into the National Insurance Scheme during their lives
• it established a higher standard of living for all

The limitations of this were:

• it was means-tested - the payments given depended on the amount of money/valuables a family/individual possessed
• many of the elderly were reluctant to apply for assistance, believing there was a stigma attached to it