In this assignment I intend to show an awareness of the concepts, definitions and measurements of poverty, of the groups experiencing poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.

In this assignment I intend to show an awareness of the concepts, definitions and measurements of poverty, of the groups experiencing poverty, social exclusion and discrimination. I will then discuss Government anti-poverty policies, legislation and how social work can respond to poverty.

I shall now discuss the history of poverty the legislation, theories and measurements of poverty.

The Poor Law Act 1601 focused on work discipline, deterrence and classification [Golding and Middleton (1982, Alcock.P p11). People who were poor or destitute were sent to workhouses, as a form of poverty relief, which was seen as a deterrent rather than a solution to poverty. [Alcock. P p11] Poor people were classed as the “deserving” (the elderly or sick) and the “undeserving” (idle, lazy, criminal)“individualist theory”. Due to economic structure legislation changed in 1795 to support local parishes to top up agricultural workers wages with the introduction of the “Speedhamland System”. This form of support was costly and indiscriminate and did not control or encourage employment. Due to recognition of high unemployment and poverty the Poor Law (1834) was amended, claiming that a person had to be destitute or unemployable in order to receive assistance. [Alcock. P p11] According to Ditch (1996) this law was established to “deter a person from benefiting or seeing it as a substitute for employment”(p25).

In (1899) Rowantree conducted a study of people experiencing poverty in York, Absolute poverty based on income. He concluded a family lived in poverty if they had insufficient resources to meet and maintain the basic needs of physical requirements of body and soul, health and efficiency. [Rowantree 1901). Absolute poverty does exist but should be seen as a relative concept. [Scottish Executive Social Justice Report 2000]

[Prescott 1994: 26) states that absolute poverty does not exist in Britain today having been virtually eliminated by the welfare state, with the exception of small groups such as homeless or elderly people who die through not heating their homes in the winter, this is not due to “poverty” but is the person’s choice. [Becker. S p22] (Pathological theory)

Relative Poverty defined by (Townsend, 1979) measured poverty in the state standard income, relative income standard of poverty and relative deprivation. Townsend states the poverty line is decided by society, that a person is living in poverty if he or she is excluded from social participation or part citizenship (Structural theory). [Townsend 1979, Golding 1986, Lister 1990, Oppenheim and Harker 1996] (Becker. S p23)

Mack and Lansley 1985 “Breadline Britain” was based on Townsend’s relative measurement also of the public’s perception of necessities (Democratic). Mack and Lansley pointed out that the Welfare reforms made by the Conservative Government in the 80’s made the recipients of welfare payment worse off, with high employment levels and cuts in housing benefit. [Haralambos, p302] Others in society feared that Conservative Minister of Social Security, Peter Lilley, intended to return to the Poor Law tradition of a local variation rather than the national benefit system to discourage dependency. [Becker. S p83] “New Right theory”

The Conservative Government’s policies contributed to re-instating poverty rather than alleviating it, which is confirmed in the survey compiled by the Office for National Statistics in 1999 (Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey). The survey used subjective measurements such as, material, social deprivation, income, and the lack of socially perceived “necessities” to measure poverty and social exclusion. People’s perception of the basic necessities such as food, clothing and housing, items that were once considered a luxury (TV, fridge) were now considered a necessity, the perception of need was more wide-ranging. [Gordon. D et al, 2000 ref 93]

Poverty is not just an aggregate statistic but of real conditions that people face, such as impoverishment and exclusion from adequate income of resources and the labour market. (43% adults have no paid work, 1 in 3 adults) exclusion from service (1 in 20 people due to cost of gas, electricity “individual exclusion” (1 in 14 people from public/private services “collective exclusion”) and social relations (1 in 10 people excluded due to cost).

Gordon used the “structural theory” blaming society, Government policies, economic change and globalisation for poverty, a theory I agree with. [Poverty and social exclusion ...

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Gordon used the “structural theory” blaming society, Government policies, economic change and globalisation for poverty, a theory I agree with. [Poverty and social exclusion in Britain, Gordon. D et al, 2000 ref 93]

Causes of poverty are complex and inter-twined, poverty lines have been measured on needs, income and income support on absolute, relative theories and social exclusion. The main focus should be on the causes and effects of poverty by the people experiencing poverty, who should be involved in the measurement and of determining policies.

There are many causes of poverty, such as structural social consequence economic, social and industrial change–globalisation. [Ferge & Millar (1987, p298] (Alcock. P p257) Unemployment, low pay and discrimination, [Social Justice Report 2000] has a devastating affect on various groups in society leading to exclusion. This can be experienced due to lack of consumption, having no savings, not voting through not being heard, also from resources in the community and society. Poverty and exclusion go hand in glove. Other individual’s who face social exclusion although not poor are elderly, disabled and coloured people.

The elderly can been seen as being “in the way” are isolated due to less contact with family members or the community. Disabled people are denied access to employment, education and resources, are made feel useless. Coloured people even if they are wealthy are still looked upon as inferior by society (inbred discrimination).

Ethnic minorities such as the refugees are discriminated by, society and other groups from ethnic minorities through religion or culture. By Government policies, being refused citizenship, receiving lower payments than other families on benefit. All poor and ethnic minorities being housed together in groups causing mini ghettos, more isolation, fear, discrimination and violence. [The under-class, Murray. C, 1994:26] Refugees could be considered by some as a sub under-class.

With an increase in poverty and cuts in state benefits by the Conservative Government in the 80’s, the lives of the poor became have more difficult. [Oppenheim 1990: Millar, 1991c]

Lone parents’ and ethnic minorities experience poverty, the division of class, race and gender suffering similar discriminatory practices. “Blacks being labelled inferior compared to white men, women being labelled the weaker sex, [Hacker, 1972].

Both groups have been discriminated in employment the Glass Ceiling effect, discriminating against promotion if you are a mother, being confined to low skill, low status and low paid jobs. (Haralambos and Holborn, 2000 p180). This also affects women in retirement due to working part-time, thus paying less contributions’ to the State Related Pension Scheme (1978) than men. Even with the introduction of the Race Relations Act (1976) Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Equal Pay Act 1970 the above examples still occur in society today.

Racism within various levels of our social structure predominately affects black people and adds to the burden of other problems. [Alcock. P p153]

If a family member has a disability he/she then faces multiple discrimination. In the case of “Sickle Cell Disease” (caused by the cold) that predominately affects black people, was only acknowledge in May 1987 by the DHSS. In April 1988 all heating allowances were abolished, replacement premiums were defined in such a way that anyone with the disease, would not receive compensatory help including children. [Vaux. G & Divine D] (Public Issues, Private pain p214)

[Murray 1994:26] claimed that the Government had made a “dependency culture” where illegitimacy was the key measure to the “underclass, where crime and illegitimacy is rife”. It is argued that the underclass is a structural phenomenon due to social and economic change. [Field. F (1989) p15] According to (Piachaud 1996:8) “the more politically vulnerable and expendable have been more harshly treated in order to restrain public expenditure”. (Responding to Poverty p15, p82)

The Institute of Economic Affairs suggested that lone parents should consider giving their children up for adoption the “Ultimate Privatisation”. It was suggested if the parent refused that she received a lower level of benefit. [Independent on Sunday, 1995b] (Adoption Bill 1996) (Community Care Act 1996a) [Becker. S p17]

Children are the most vulnerable of all according to the JRF report 1 in 6 children are experiencing multiple poverty and deprivation an estimated 26%, 13 million in total. (Poverty & Social Exclusion in Britain 2000)

Also young people aged between 16-18 years old due the 1980 reforms are not entitled to any financial support leaving some homeless sleeping on the streets. By 1995 there were 125.000 people registered homeless. [Walker. C and A (1997)] (Haralambos 2000, p 307)

I shall now discuss what anti-poverty policies and strategies the New Labour Government have put in place to help alleviate poverty. The Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIP) 48 in total, distribute money to poor communities. The amount of financial assistance is being reduced every year, causing conflict within various agencies in the community.

Elderly people receive £200 yearly fuel payment to help heat their homes in the winter. Families with children on low incomes or benefits should also receive this benefit or similar assistance to ensure the welfare of the children.

The New Deal has reduced youth unemployment by 60% and long-term by 40% in Scotland since 1997, also introduced (I.L.F.) Independent Living Fund to encourage the young, to engage in learning and training, and the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme. These policies serve no purpose to young people living on the streets or in hostels, tackling poverty, drug/alcohol abuse or have a criminal record or re-offend trying to survive.

The Minimum Wage of £4.60 is not sufficient to help single, young people or childless married couples out of poverty. Although the Working Families Tax Credit does help lone parents and low-income families financially and with childcare costs, also the Children’s Tax Relief of £442.00 per year. [Social Justice Report, 2000] It does not combat poverty within families on low-incomes who pay high rent and council tax.

This should be addressed along with new policies to tackle young 16-18 years old and homelessness in general. With the transfers of local authority housing stock to New Housing Partnerships, may cause future problems, unless new policies stipulate that housing partnerships are to provide support for homeless people.

The New Labour (1997) is the 1st Government to establish a poverty line based on average income of 50% if a person’s weekly income is below this average he/she is living in poverty. I agree that the anti-poverty policies and strategies are a welcome change, which has benefited many families although not taken them out of poverty. Poverty has risen since 1979/80 especially child poverty. [Social Justice Report 2000]

I will now look social work services, regarding what it does and can do to support and empower the 90% of people on means-tested benefits. [Becker & MacPherson p310]

Social work is seen to be reactive rather than proactive, dealing with individuals and families in distress in relation to income management, maximising benefits, only responding to the systems of change rather than challenging the causes, (p344) being a service for the poor. (p345)[Becker & MacPherson] Providing financial assistance in a crisis when children are at risk under the Social Work Scotland Act (Section 12 in England section 1). [Becker. S p99]

The rhetoric of social work training and practice in the 90’s is for “empowering” rather than a treatment paradigm for social work as a consequence little has changed for poor families. [Adams 1996:20] Social workers do not have the power or the resources to help poor families combat poverty, [Becker 1998, Gibbons et al. 1990] [Becker. S p117] some would state they do not have the inclination to assist by blaming the poor.

Social work is governed by statutory requirements under children and adult legislation and is limited in its’ power. To act out-with legislation/policy is illegal, if workers fail within their legal and discretionary duties it could result in a public enquiry, investigation or prosecution thus leaving the worker/social work in a equivocal position. [Cooper 1993: 59, Document10] (Becker. S p91)

However if a social worker is aware of the law, policies and legislation he/she can harness the law to empower clients, through parallel structures of personal and socio-economic development and promote change. [Dalrymple & Burke 1995 p57]

Social work use various methods such as traditional providing support to individuals or groups, focusing on task-centred, therapeutic or counselling work [Becker. S p116] according to [Holman, 1973:441] this only serves to maintain clients depriving situation. I believe the traditional theory is important in the casework of one to one in order to listen and understand the problems clients are facing.

In the method of dual perspective, the worker can empower a person to understand injustices, the oppressed and the oppressor, by installing an understanding of the societal systems within dominate groups in society and the cultural system in a clients’ environment. [Norton 1978: 3] (Dalrymple & Burke, 1995 p12) This method of nurturing can help the worker to involve and install the client with positive images and role models. To enable the client to develop a sense of worth, have the information and resources to counteract “negative valuations” discrimination and oppression. [Dalrymple & Burke, 1995 p13]

It is estimated that 13% of social workers work directly with clients experiencing multiple poverty and discrimination within the community. It is not possible for workers to address, respond or challenge the causes of poverty, as they should which can be done in the following examples.

Being aware of the gaps within service provisions, of other resources and networks within the community, local authorities, voluntary sectors and welfare rights groups. Ensuring information is stored on the Care First computerised system so workers and clients in all sectors are aware of resources available in their own and other communities. This could empower clients to join groups in other communities facing the same multiple oppressions and discrimination, to have a voice and be heard as in the radical era of the 70’s “power to the people”.

In the 80’s the DHSS published information of surplus funds due to non- claiming of benefits. Welfare rights workers were recruited within social services and local authorities, to support client’s to access benefits through “take up campaigning” conveying information to groups likely to be under-claiming benefits through various sources of advertising. (Alcock & Shepherd, 1987) This anti-poverty strategy backfired and was partly the reason for the 1986 reform of means tested benefits. [Alcock. P p249]

Social work can best assist people in the community in doing a community profile in the community, and involving clients. Advising clients and communities of ways to deal with debt like Credit Unions, Food Co-operatives, Debt Management services through the Citizen’s Advice and Welfare Rights. It would beneficial if all of the relevant issues were dealt with in one social work department within the community.

I conclude that Government policies and legislation are to blame for poverty, although the new policies and strategies in place today help some they do not help all clients. I do not feel that it is social works responsibility to deal with poverty or that social work can alleviate poverty, as social work does not have the resources, funding or the staff.

I feel that social work can and should challenge poverty, deprivation and discrimination in other ways by anti-oppressive and discriminatory practice. Empowering clients to be aware not only of, their own injustices but that of other groups who discriminate against each other, to install understanding and unity within the community a holistic approach. Social and political change can be brought about by empowering clients to join pressure groups to fight for their rights.