Memorandum on social insurance and allied services in their bearing on neurotic disorder
1943 1943 1940s 19 pages 10 accident pensions whether temporary or permanent, and should therefore be treated similarly. This would avoid many disputes over whether these were really attributable to war ; any disability occurring in employment involving war risk (e.g. the armed services), or arisin...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
[1943?]
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/91D23354-8F7E-4C8E-B397-741B706B13C9 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/E0269C0A-7537-4037-922B-F93F1FC0AC42 |
| Summary: | 1943
1943
1940s
19 pages
10 accident pensions whether temporary or permanent, and should therefore be treated similarly. This would avoid many disputes over whether these were really attributable to war ; any disability occurring in employment involving war risk (e.g. the armed services), or arising out of war risk whatever the employment at the time, should qualify people for this ; this definition would only be necessary if the State wished to compensate, as they might, at a higher rate. (j) Old age. — There seens [seems] no justification other than an actuarial one for treating the elderly differently from those of working age. They might be regarded as a less useful section of the community, and therefore it might be the most practical way of reducing the cost that the scheme will make on the Exchequer ; but if the objections to such an attitude are conceded there seems to be no justification for excluding them from full benefits when the scheme starts. However, the proposals have been given their present form, probably, partly in order to encourage the continuance of employment among the elderly. If we dismiss the actuarial considerations as an inadequate overruling reason, what is the best way of framing the scheme so that there will be maximum inducement for the able elderly to continue at work, without penalizing those who are not fit? This is presumably largely a psychological matter ; the important but separate cost question is considered later. If the Beveridge Report scheme be considered as one for the restoration and maintenance of those disabled, handicapped or losing their means of livelihood, the claims of the aged to its benefit are comparable to those of the partially or totally permanently disabled. Instead of by injury or illness they have lost working or earning capacity by the effects of age. Therefore, they should be entitled to a pension equivalent to this loss ; the problem is how to assess the reduction, but retirement should not be the condition required before payments can begin. If it is desired to encourage continuance of employment, old age should be treated in its first phases as are other partial disabilities, and the most suitable mechanisms set up to facilitate these individuals obtaining appropriate types of work. Presumably the most workable method would be to regard the attainment of a certain age (say 65) as equivalent to partial incapacity (giving entitlement to, say, pension of half flat benefit rates, irrespective of continuance at work otherwise uninfluenced by this receipt), and a later age (say 70) as equivalent to full incapacity, and so giving entitlement to full benefit, if retired, without further proof of disability being needed ; if they did not retire, there could be no question of full incapacity and the earlier rate would continue. Full incapacity due to age occurring before 65 could be dealt with like any other full incapacity. (k) Disciplinary cases and national assistance cases. — When "through weakness or badness of character" the individuals fail to comply with the conditions for insurance benefit, they pass to the care of the National Assistance Board ; it is reasonable that such cases should be dealt with on the basis of a means test, but since the National Assistance benefit should also aim at removing poverty, it is unlikely that the financial difference would often effect a cure. Here psychiatry can be of help ; all individuals who reach the National Assistance status for reasons other than failure to make previous payments should have a social and psychiatric review (see later), and suitable rehabili-
292/847/2/174 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |