FOR THE STUDENTS OF SOCIAL WORK . These slides were prepared by Prof. Amir Zada Asad, ex Chairman Department of Social Work, university of Peshawar. They have been modified by Dr. Imran A. Sajid. They are based on the works of Walter Friedlander in his book Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare. This presentation is highly useful for the students of BS and Masters in Social Work, Social Welfare, or Social Policy. Dr. Imran A. Sajid University of Peshawar

1. Poor Law of 1601
Imran Ahmad Sajid, PhD
Source: Walter Friedlander. (1968). Introduction to Social Welfare. pp.15-18

2. • In 1600, it was realized that the previous laws were
haphazardly made and they needed codification* and
unification#.
• In 1601, Queen Elizabeth, passed a law which was also
known a “ 43 Elizabeth”.
*Arrange something
#act of uniting

3. Known for
1. Unification and Codification of preceding poor laws
2. Community responsibility to support the needy
3. Principles of Relatives / Family Responsibility

4. Classification of Poor
Poor
1. Able Bodies /
Sturdy Beggars
Workhouses
2. Impotent
Poor/Beggars
Alms Houses /
Outdoor Relief
3. Dependent
Children
Indentured /
Given to the
lowest bidder

5. 1. The able-bodied/Sturdy beggars
• They were those called the sturdy beggars and were forced
to work in the ‘work houses’ or house of correction.
• Citizens were forbidden to give them alms and
• those who arrived fresh in a parish were returned to the
place where they had dwelt last for an year.
• Any vagabond, who refused to work in the work house, was
put in a stock or in a jail.

6. 2. The Impotent poor
• They were those who were unable to work- the old, infirm*,
the demented, the pregnant women, women with young
children, the deaf-mute etc.
• they were put in the ‘alms houses’ and were provided with
food, shelter and clothing.
• Those who could work within their capacities like dish washing,
washing clothes etc , were put to such pity works.
• Again, if the impotent poor had a place to live and that seemed
less expensive than in the alms house, the overseers could
provide them help in kinds there as out door relief.
*not strong

7. • Under this law, as was in the previous laws, the
poor law did not register a person in need of
public assistance if his wife/ her husband/ son/
father/ daughter/etc. supported him/her and
they had to.
• This was known a s “family responsibility” “ or
“Relative’s Responsibility” meant that relatives
have to assume the primary responsibility of
supporting own poor.
• The public relief authority only aided a person
when his family or relatives were unable to
support them.

8. 3. Dependent Children
• These were
1. orphans,
2. foundlings,
3. children who had been deserted by their parents or
4. whose parents were so poor that they could not support them.
• These children were given to some citizens who were
willing to take them without any charge.
• In case such homes were not available, these children were
given to the lowest bidder.

9. • Children of eight (8) years and older who could do some
domestic work, were indentured with townsmen.
• Boys were taught the trade of their master and had to
serve up to their twenty fourth birth day.
• Girls were brought up as domestic servants and remained
in indenture up till their twenty first birth day or married.

10. Administration of the Poor Laws
• Role of the Overseer of the poor
1. Receive application of the poor person for relief
2. To investigate his condition
3. To decide whether he was eligible for relief
4. To decide whether the applicant and his family should be
placed in “work house” or “alms house” , to be “sold out”
or should “receive aid in their own communities”
5. Collect poor tax from the community

11. Comments
• The new feature of the law was the establishment of the
liability to support grand parents in need.
• This law was based on public sentiment that the
government should do some thing for the help of the poor
at the time of economic, political and religious need.

12. • The law confirmed the responsibility of the parish-
the local community to finance their poor brethren
who were not supported by their relatives.
• The parish was responsible for the maintenance of
those destitute who were born there or had lived
there for at least three years.
• This question of residence or settlement right is
still considered while processing application for
benefits.

13. Conclusion
• The poor law of 1601 set the pattern of public relief under
governmental responsibility for the UK for three hundred years.
• It established the principle that the local community –the
parish—had to organize poor relief for its residents, provide
sustenance to the unemployed and children, and work to the
able bodied persons.
• It still maintain many of the earlier features of repression and
disdain for the destitute, but it also accepts an obligation for
the aid of people who could not provide for themselves.