Presentation Transcript

1. The Old

2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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’.
6. 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.