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Archiver > UK-WORKHOUSE-HOSP > 2000-05 > 0957786004


From: "rossbret" <>
Subject: [UK-W&H] Fw: LIFE on the BREADLINE - Part 3
Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 12:40:04 +0100


Forward with permission of Author.
----- Original Message -----
From: "E. Spencer" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 5:39 PM
Subject: LIFE on the BREADLINE - Part 3


> Hello Everyone:
>
> Some of you may remember last month I posted 2 parts for
> the above story and promised to continue this month.
> If anyone kept the last 2 and would like to cut & paste
> them back to me, I would appreciate it. I have been through
> my files twice and can't believe I didn't file them.
>
> Here is some of what is continued this month.
>
> PENSIONS, but not for all:
> Until, 1908, financial support for the elderly in Britain
> was left to the local Guardian of the Poor. In 1907, the
> government promised that in the following year they would
> grant a pension to elderly people.
> An announcement in the budget of 1908 was made, by the Prime
> Minister, Mr Asquith. From January 1,1909, most people over
> the age of 70 would receive a pension. This would amount to
> 5 shillings a week for single people and 7 shillings and
> sixpence a week for 2 people over the qualifying age, living
> under the same roof, be they a married couple, siblings or
> relatives.
> The pension was to be non-contributory and given to British
> subjects and naturalized aliens of 20 years' residence.
> Criminals, those in receipt of parochial or other relief
> which disqualified them for a parliamentary vote, an lunatics
> were not to receive the allowance. This meant that people in
> receipt of indoor or outdoor relief did not qualify. Single
> people already receiving 10 shillings or more per week from
> other sources were not designated, nor were couples whose
> current income was 15 shillings or more. Another disqualified
> group were "habitual idlers and work shirkers-those who had been
> brought to poverty or indigence by their own wilful act or
> misbehaviour". The bill was also hard on people who had been
> convicted and imprisoned without the option of a fine. They
> were disqualified from receiving a pension whilst in prison
> and for 10 years after they were released. It was also an
> option for the courts to disqualify people from receiving a
> pension, for a period of 10 years, if they had been convicted
> of any offence.
> The money was to be collected from the Post Office on surrender
> of a weekly token which would be supplied in books and it
> would be illegal to use these as pledges.
>
> More another time.
>
> Lorraine
> Ottawa, Canada
>
>
>

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