Making of Modern Britain 1880-1951 - liberal reforms (the old)

1. Making of Modern Britain
Liberal
Reforms:
the old

2. In today’s class, I am learning to:
• Describe Liberal Reforms which
helped old people
• Explain why these reforms were and
were not effective
Liberal Reforms – the old

3. Arguably the most famous reform introduced by the
Liberals – and a government policy that still exists
today – is pensions for elderly people.
Liberal Reforms – the old

4. Before 1908, old people
faced many problems.
The lack of government or
other support forced many
to work even when they
were no longer healthy
enough to do so.
Others were forced to go
to the hated poor house.
Liberal Reforms – the old

5. In 1908 the Liberals
introduced the Old Age
Pensions Act.
People age 70 and above
could now get a pension.
This was up to five shillings
per week for a single
person, and seven shilling
five pence for a couple.
Liberal Reforms – the old

6. Pensions were means
tested, meaning only some
poorer people were
eligible to claim them.
People earning less than
£21 per year received a full
pension. Those with an
income of £21 to £31 got a
smaller amount. Anyone
else received nothing.
Liberal Reforms – the old

7. Anyone eligible to receive a
pension had to go to their
local post office for this. It
was believed this would
stop claimants feeling
embarrassed.
Pensions were non-
contributory, which means
people did not have to pay
anything to receive them.
Liberal Reforms – the old

8. Pensions made a huge
difference to the lives of
older people.
They allowed many people
to be able to retire without
living in abject poverty.
In addition they no longer
had to worry about going
to the poor house.
Liberal Reforms – the old

9. However pensions also had
certain limitations.
Poverty studies at the time
suggested that you needed
at least seven shillings per
week to avoid poverty.
However pensions were
set below this level (five
shillings).
Liberal Reforms – the old

10. In the early 1900s, the
average life expectancy for
men was 49 and 50 for
women. However you had
to be 70 to get a pension.
In addition some people
were not allowed to get a
pension, for instance, if
they had been in prison in
the previous ten years.
Liberal Reforms – the old