National Assistance

The National Assistance Act 1948 gave help to people over 16, not in full time work, "who are without resources to meet their requirements, or whose resources must be supplemented in order to meet their requirements." The plan for National Assistance and end of the Poor Law was part of the Beveridge Report. People were no longer made to go back to where they were born. They didnt have to pay the money back. National Assistance was mostly for the people who did not pay National Insurance. These were mostly old or disabled people, unmarried mothers or homeless people. The value of other benefits went down because of inflation in the 1950s so people getting other benefits had to claim National Assistance on top.

The money for a couple was £2 a week and extra money for the rent. Before 1948 it was 31 shillings a week.[1]

The National Assistance Board made rules about resources and requirements but they were not public. Claimants still did not have rights. The means test did not include the pay of sons and daughters. People over pension age were paid more.[2]

Northern Ireland had a seperate National Assistance Board.

From 1966 there was Supplementary Benefit.