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National Assistance

In 1952 a group of elderly people enjoy pocket skittles at The Vigo Inn in Wrotham, Kent.

In 1952 a group of elderly people enjoy pocket skittles at The Vigo Inn in Wrotham, Kent.
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In 1948, the National Assistance Act founded the National Assistance Board, which was responsible for public assistance. Derived from national insurance contributions, the Board established means-tested supplements for the uninsured.

Related documents

Unemployment and benefits

Cabinet Memorandum. Social Insurance and Allied Services. Summary of Report by Sir William Beveridge. 25 November 1942 (PDF, 3.449MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Social Insurance. Memorandum by the Minister of Reconstruction. 7 September 1944 (PDF, 14.155MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Social Insurances: National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Bill. 18 May 1945 (PDF, 1.506MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Bill. Memorandum by the Minister of National Insurance. 16 May 1945 (PDF, 2.172MB)

National Assistance and the Conservatives

Cabinet Conclusion 3. National Assistance. 4 April 1952 (PDF, 1.180MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. National Assistance. Memorandum by the Minister of National Insurance. 31 March 1952 (PDF, 0.369MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. National Assistance, National Insurance and the Cost of Living. Memorandum by the Minister of Pensions and National Assistance. 21 September 1955 (PDF, 2.412MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 8. National Assistance. 22 November 1955 (PDF, 1.834MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Retirement Pensions and National Assistance. Memorandum by the Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal. 5 May 1959 (PDF, 0.784MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Old Age Pensions and National Assistance. 7 May 1959 (PDF, 1.350MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Proposed Changes in National Assistance. Memorandum by the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. 2 June 1959 (PDF, 1.242MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 2. National Assistance. 4 June 1959 (PDF, 1.276MB)

Use of means tested assistance

Cabinet Memorandum. Ministry of Social Security: Draft White Paper Note by the Minster of Pensions and National Insurance. 25 February 1966 (PDF, 0.902MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 2. National Assistance. 7 June 1962 (PDF, 1.538MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. National Assistance Scales Memorandum by the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. 1 June 1962 (PDF, 0.640MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. National Insurance Benefits Memorandum by the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. 8 November 1962 (PDF, 2.009MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Pensions and National Insurance. 13 November 1962 (PDF, 1.191MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. National Insurance and National Assistance. 21 April 1964 (PDF, 1.175MB)

Labour Reform and supplementary benefits

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Review of Public Expenditure Social Security. 29 July 1965 (PDF, 2.169MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 2. Social Services Reshaping National Assistance. 14 December 1965 (PDF, 2.212MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Proposals for Reshaping National Assistance Memorandum by the Minster of Pensions and National Insurance. (PDF, 0.806MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Social Services Ministry of Social Security: Draft White Paper. 1 March 1966 (PDF, 1.373MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Ministry of Social Security Bill Memorandum by the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. 27 April 1966 (PDF, 0.647MB)

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Further reading

Land, A., Lowe, R. & Whiteside, N., The Development of the Welfare State 1939-1951 A Guide to Document in the Public Record Office (London: HMSO, 1992)
Bridgen, P. & Lowe, R., Welfare Policy under the Conservatives 1951-1964 A Guide to Documents in the Public Record Office (Kew: Public Record Office, 1998)
Glennerster, H., British Social Policy since 1945 (Oxford: Blackwell, 1995)
Lowe, R., The Welfare State in Britain since 1945 (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1993)
Timmins, N., The Five Giants (London: HarperCollins, 1995)

Content

National Assistance
Unemployment assistance
Benefit reform

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