The notion of the state helping its poor, disabled, and elderly has existed since the creation of the concept of a state. In antiquity, states employed diverse systems with varying degrees of success. Usually the burden fell on the families to take care of the disabled and elderly and the state often stepped in to support the general poor in one way or another. With the collapse of the classical world and the rise of feudalism in Western Europe, many of these responsibilities were assumed by the Roman Catholic Church. Through most of the medieval period the Church alone ran hospitals, poor houses, and other services meant to help the poor and indigent.
While in the Spanish and French colonies the Roman Catholic Church was still in charge of the charitable activities, in England there had been a religious revolution and the state began handling hospitals, poor houses and other services. The colonists that left England for the Americas brought with them the idea of the state supporting the poor. In 1602 England past the first major law intended to provide and help the impotent poor: the Act for the Relief of the Poor. Young children without guardians, the elderly, blind, crippled, and those suffering from debilitating diseases were included in this definition of impotent poor.
The amelioration offered through the local charities generally consisted of apparel and free food (the parish loaf). The elderly were cared for in almshouses in areas that had them. Public assistance programs were administered by a local official who bore the title Overseer of the Poor. There was an overseer in every local area who was charged with coming to know the poor, to qualify him in distinguishing the deserving and undeserving poor. It was also the overseers responsibility to distribute relief and assistance to the poor as he saw fit. An excellent idea in theory, however, the absolute power the overseer had over his charges and their ability to live gave way to rank corruption and gross abuse.
Englands Poor Laws were written and passed by Parliament and recognized as national law throughout England and Wales. However, it was administered at the local level and there was no framework in place at a national or regional level to distribute material assets evenly. This meant that each of the local areas was responsible for its own poor, and furthermore that any care corresponded closely with the wealth of the area. Parishes were allowed to gather a poor rate or tax to cover the costs of caring for the poor. However, the collection of taxes and the distribution of poor rate collections were both conducted by the Overseer of the Poor, with the result being profound exploitation of the system. However, the poor programs worked, but usually purely because the poor could not leave to find a more wealthy area to find better assistance for their troubles. Benefits were not provided for the poor who were physically strong and able to travel to better areas.
These poor laws were the order of the day throughout the 18th century and were brought to North America with the English colonists. By modern standards the Poor Laws were inhuman and unethical, however they were perceived as judicious during the period they were in effect. Throughout the centuries since 1601, the circumstances and inabilities that made up the impotent poor still define many of the same predicaments that entitle people to claim Social Security benefits today.
While in the Spanish and French colonies the Roman Catholic Church was still in charge of the charitable activities, in England there had been a religious revolution and the state began handling hospitals, poor houses and other services. The colonists that left England for the Americas brought with them the idea of the state supporting the poor. In 1602 England past the first major law intended to provide and help the impotent poor: the Act for the Relief of the Poor. Young children without guardians, the elderly, blind, crippled, and those suffering from debilitating diseases were included in this definition of impotent poor.
The amelioration offered through the local charities generally consisted of apparel and free food (the parish loaf). The elderly were cared for in almshouses in areas that had them. Public assistance programs were administered by a local official who bore the title Overseer of the Poor. There was an overseer in every local area who was charged with coming to know the poor, to qualify him in distinguishing the deserving and undeserving poor. It was also the overseers responsibility to distribute relief and assistance to the poor as he saw fit. An excellent idea in theory, however, the absolute power the overseer had over his charges and their ability to live gave way to rank corruption and gross abuse.
Englands Poor Laws were written and passed by Parliament and recognized as national law throughout England and Wales. However, it was administered at the local level and there was no framework in place at a national or regional level to distribute material assets evenly. This meant that each of the local areas was responsible for its own poor, and furthermore that any care corresponded closely with the wealth of the area. Parishes were allowed to gather a poor rate or tax to cover the costs of caring for the poor. However, the collection of taxes and the distribution of poor rate collections were both conducted by the Overseer of the Poor, with the result being profound exploitation of the system. However, the poor programs worked, but usually purely because the poor could not leave to find a more wealthy area to find better assistance for their troubles. Benefits were not provided for the poor who were physically strong and able to travel to better areas.
These poor laws were the order of the day throughout the 18th century and were brought to North America with the English colonists. By modern standards the Poor Laws were inhuman and unethical, however they were perceived as judicious during the period they were in effect. Throughout the centuries since 1601, the circumstances and inabilities that made up the impotent poor still define many of the same predicaments that entitle people to claim Social Security benefits today.
About the Author:
Wendy Polisi is one of the owners of Social Security Insider Secrets. With the help of Pete Black, who was a manager for Social Security Administration for 34 years, they provide insider information to those who have questions about how to maximize their social security egilibility
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