The Old

Did the Liberal Reforms meet the needs of the old?

NOT FULLY

They did introduce the Old Age Pensions but the act had many failings.

Problem

• The elderly were too old to work • Most had spent their working lives earning very little, so

did not have enough money to save for retirement. • New Liberals believed living in poverty was not the fault

of the old.

What did the Liberals do?

The Old Age Pensions Act (1908)• Over 70s given between 1 shilling and 5 shillings (5-20p) per

week, depending on any previous or current income. • Married couples over 70 were given 7 shillings and 6 pence (37p)• If a person earned more than 12 shillings (60p) per week, their

entitlement to a pension stopped.

• Radical and revolutionary reform which cost the Liberals seats in parliament as in order to pay for it taxes had to be > and a general election had to be called in order for the budget to be passed.

The ways in which the act helped

•Non-contributory act. • It provided small income so removed fear of workhouse. • Collected at post office so removed stigma - 1 million pensions were claimed by 1914 • Removed fear of workhouse • By 1909, 80,000 people stopped claiming from charities • Popular with old people – ‘God Save Lloyd George’.

The ways in which the act could have been better

• 70 was too old as average life expectancy was 55 • Rowntree said a single person needed 35p to stay

above the poverty line, so 25p not enough.• Poor houses/work houses remained until 1929• Not all over 70s got pensions e.g. drunks.

Point to argument: The OAP act did not successfully fulfil the needs of the poor even though it provided some financial help.

The act provided for those aged over 70, who had lived in GB for 20 years and earned less than £31.50 per year. This gave single people 25p and married couples 35p per week.

This was important because it went some way in helping the problem as it provided some money to help them buy necessities. This was popular with the public who saw it as ‘something for nothing’.

It was also collected from the post office which removed the stigma associated with the poor law.

This was successful because people were more encouraged to collect it as it reduced the embarrassment of receiving benefits as by 1914, over 1 million people had claimed their pension.

Refute argument: However, evidence strongly suggests that the OAPs Act did not pull people above the poverty line and so was unsuccessful.

Indeed, the act only gave single people 25p per week which ignored the advice given by Rowntree that 35p was needed to remain above the poverty line.

This showed that the OAP was no improvement on the existing poor law as the figure was the same amount given by poor relief.

Additionally it was only available to those over 70. This showed the act was unsuccessful because the average life expectancy was 55 and so most people did not reach the required age.

Furthermore, another failing was that it did not include those deemed as ‘drunks’ and ‘workshy’.

As this was not the case with the poor law which was open to all, the OAPs did not go far enough in supporting those in poverty.

Link to the question: As such, this essay argues that the OAPs did help to small extent by providing some financial support however, it was unsuccessful in pulling the old above the poverty line.