The British Social Welfare Program - Assignment Example

Social care in Britain Social care in Britain The British social welfare program has been formed both by long standing conventions and by changing budgetary and social conditions. In its initial history, Britain was a growing nation with a boundless outskirts and an overwhelmingly agrarian economy. Up to 1870, more than a large portion of the Nations mature person laborers were agriculturists. In the years that took after, then again, industry developed quickly and the economy tended undeniably to be characterized by industrialization, specialization, and urbanization. The effect was a Nation of additional workers who were subject to a proceeding stream of cash wage to accommodate themselves and their families (Livingston, 2008). Both the States and the Federal Government had started to distinguish that certain dangers in an inexorably industrialized economy could best be met through a social protection methodology to open welfare. That is, the contributory financing of social protection projects might guarantee that security was accessible as a matter of great with an open assistance approach whereby just those persons in need might be qualified for profits. In Britain, as in most streamlined nations, social protection first started with specialists remuneration (Mathews, 2014). A Federal law coating non-military person workers of the Government in risky employments was received in 1908, and the first State recompense law to be held sacred was ordered in 1911. By 1929, specialists compensation laws were in everything except four States. These laws made industry answerable for the expenses of remunerating specialists. Advancement of British social care programs has been logical and incremental, formulated because of particular issues, and portrayed by an incredible level of decentralization (Livingston, 2008). Current structure The Office of the Chief Actuary (OCACT) arranges and coordinates a system of actuarial gauges and examines relating to the SSA-managed retirement, survivors, handicap protection programs, and supplemental security pay program and to anticipated changes in these projects. Evaluates operations of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund; gauges future operations of the trust stores; behaviors investigations of project financing; performs actuarial and demographic research on social protection and related system issues; and appraisals future workloads. Provides specialized and consultative administrations to the Commissioner, the Board of Trustees of those two Trust Funds seek congressional advisory groups. In addition, they appear before congressional panels to give master affirmation on the actuarial parts of Social Security issues (Witt, 2013). Calculation of benefits The Retirement Estimator gives assessments dependent upon your real Social Security profit record (Witt, 2013). It would be ideal if you remember that these are simply assesses. We cannot give your real profit sum until you request profits. Furthermore, that sum may contrast from the assessments gave because: i. Your income may build or abatement later on ii. After you begin getting profits, they will be balanced for typical cost for basic items increments iii. Your assessed profits are dependent upon current law. The law representing profit sums may change in light of the fact that, by 2033, the payroll duties gathered will be sufficient to pay just about 77 pennies for every dollar of planned profits iv. Your profit sum may be influenced by military administration, railroad work or annuities earned through take a shot at which you did not pay Social Security charge (Mathews, 2014). Relationship between social care and health care in England and Wales Real advancement has been made in enhancing the execution of the NHS previous decade. Despite this advancement, the current wellbeing and social consideration conveyance framework has neglected to keep pace with the needs of a maturing populace, the changing trouble of ailment, and climbing patient and open desires. Major change to the conveyance framework is required, with more noteworthy accentuation on counteracting disease and handling danger elements, for example, stoutness, to help individuals stay in social and health care. Both countries have a program that aims at supporting individuals to live in their own homes and offering a more extensive scope of lodging alternatives in the group and giving exclusive expectations of essential mind in all practices to empower more administrations to be conveyed in essential consideration, where proper making more viable utilization of group health care administrations and related social consideration, and guaranteeing these administrations are accessible every minute of every day when required in utilizing intense healing centers and look after those individuals who cant be dealt with or administered to all the more fittingly in different settings Health care in Britain Medical care in Britain is offered by distinct legal agencies. Furthermore, health facilities and equipments are operated, managed, and privately owned, the government offers medical insurance in public domain with more than fifty percent of the medical care provision stemming from programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and children’s health insurance plan. A great percent of the income among British citizens is utilized on health care. Due to increased and high cost of health care, the country has established a highest public medical or health care per capita expenditure. In addition, medical cost in Britain among uninsured and underinsured citizens is very high or costly because the private sector owns most health care facilities and equipments. Health care bodies and institutions such as hospitals and clinics work effectively because of available resources that the government provides Mathews, 2014). The British health care system is a single player, which implies that the public finances it. Further, the health care system in Britain is perceived to carry out more work for less money since the British government offers universal access to health care for its people. However, it is significant to note that the health care system and conditions in Britain affect nurses and nursing in the country in the sense that nurses are required to work with the entire community in ensuring that everybody has access to health care services. Further, public health nurses and nursing are in a position to enlighten and educate British people about health issues, increase their access to health care, and enhance community safety and health, as it is the norm for nurses (Evans and Vekerle, 1997). The health care system and condition in Britain has made the use to adapt the possibility for physicians to combine hospital practice and office and length of hospital stay among the shortest in the world. Further, reductions in the work hours of occupant nurses to advance patient wellbeing, extending national primary care capacity, enhancing or improving admittance to care for the rural residents and the poor , and contributing to much needed care coordination for the frail and chronically ill. Health care conditions in Britain have been instrumental in helping to push forward the legislation of advanced practice nursing task and for enhanced access to health care since many Americans are uninsured. The British health care system is challenged to offer medical treatment and preventive care from primary care nurses and access to other medical facilities (Evans and Vekerle, 1997). Social care and health in British welfare states Discrimination based on gender has been a recurring subject throughout the course of civilization. Many societies in the world have been traditionally patriarchal. Women have always been treated as lesser beings playing a secondary role to men. British women and children have not been an exception. Their struggle for recognition of their basic rights took a dramatic turn during the post-war era. The struggles continue to persist albeit on a smaller scale. The challenges faced by British women were in no way unique to what was experienced by their neighbors in the USA. These challenges were heavily linked to the perceived gender roles of women as stipulated by a male dominated society. In the workplace, women came face to face with gender discrimination. A woman’s role in the workplace was considered secondary to the work of men. This trend continued after the Second World War where women were still considered inferior in the labor market (Evans and Vekerle, 1997). The situation persisted until early 1980s there was a proliferation of feminist groups that began fighting for the emancipation of women. In the due course of time, their grievances gained support from their male partners. These culminated in recognition of women as equal partners as men and, therefore, have equal citizenship rights. However, to get where they presently are, countless obstacles and challenges have faced women. However, the struggle of British women in their quest for gender equality after World War II has not been easy. Citizenship rights include not only civil and political rights, but also social and economic rights (Evans and Vekerle, 1997). The difficulties that women faced can be attributed to two pieces of legislation; the Family Allowance Act of 1945, and the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1940. The two sets of legislations were enacted to govern the welfare state of British citizens, but had the undesired effect of discriminating against women (O’Brien, 2008). In order to understand problems that women faced after World War II, it is essential to examine the relationship between women, the welfare state and social policies (Andrew, 1984). These social policies reversed the progress that women had initially made during the war era. The Unemployment Insurance Act provided for the formation of the Unemployment Insurance Fund that was made up of contributions made by workers, proprietors and the government (Jenson, 2001). This piece of legislation was enacted to limit women participation in the labor market and the public sphere. Women were encouraged to leave the labor market to men. The policy gave support to a patriarchal society and reinforced “the sexual division of labor” (Evans and Vekerle, 1997). The policy was based on the assumption that allowing women to work was going to take away jobs from men. After all, women were considered less productive than men were and thus, hampered economic growth. This policy was thought to be the solution to unemployment and economic growth. Women were barred from holding senior positions as these were reserved for men. In 1950, new amendments were introduced to the Unemployment Act (Finkel, 2006). The new provisions made the situation to be even worse. Concerning the new provisions, a woman was assumed to engage in paid work only until she got married. After marriage, she had to quit (O’Brien, 2008). In addition, a married woman was ineligible to get UI benefits for two years after getting married. The enactment of this act was a blatant attempt to formalize state sanctioned exclusion of women from social spheres of life. The organized labor unions opposed the public policies formulated by the government, because married women were seen to be undeserving of the UI benefits, considering the members of labor unions were among the contributors (Fingard & Guildford, 2005). They presumed that these social policies while benefiting the community were harming the economy. The ambivalence was also caused by the increased political activity of women after the war era. Women had formed their own groups, mainly feminist groups, to push across their agenda. The organized labor unions thought that, with their own associations, women did not need any support from them. Organized labor unions also viewed these associations as competitors and therefore, could not support them in their struggles. The women organizations had consistently challenged the established patriarchal structure of British society. Moreover, organized labor unions were themselves too busy fighting for their own problems to take note of women’s problems. After the war, the unions were mainly focused on getting minimum wage, improved working conditions, and insurance for their members and were, therefore, in no position to get involved with other agenda. In affirming their citizenship rights after World War II, British citizens especially women faced numerous challenges most of which can be attributed to social policies enacted by the government. The Unemployment Act and Family Allowance Act of 1945 was the greatest barrier to women in their journey towards full citizenship rights. The two laws were created to maintain the status quo, that of men’s superiority over women. Despite these challenges, women received no support from organized labor who perceived them as competitors. The position of women on labor issues reflected middle-class bias of membership. Organized labor fight for the unemployment issue only led to formation of an effort to have women redecorate or renovate their homes in the winter months. This was taken as a part of the federal government in stimulation of the winter employment especially to women and children. References Christie, N. & Gauvreau, M. (2008). Cultures of Citizenship in Post-war Britain, 1940 – 1955. Ontario: McGill-Queens. Evans, Patricia M. & Wekerle, Gerda R. (1997). Women and the British Welfare State: Challenges and Change. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Fingard, J. & Guildford, J. (2005). Mothers of the Municipality: Women, Work and Social Policy in Post-1945 Halifax. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Finkel, A. (2006). Social Policy and Practice in Britain: A History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Jenson, J. (2001). Social Citizenship in 21st Century Britain: Challenges and Options. The 2001 Timlin Lecture at the University of Saskatchewan. February 5, 2001. OBrien, R. (2008). Solidarity First: British Workers and Social Cohesion. Vancouver: UBC Press. Livingston, S. (2008). British social security program. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Mathews, J. (2014). Social Security, Medicare and Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement and Medical Benefits. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Witt, L. (2013). The Other Welfare: Supplemental Security Income and British Social Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More