Post war times, almost immediately, began with severe unemployment for Britain.  Severe unemployment often leads to recession, depression and civil unrest.  It was during this time, that the Beveridge Report came to be.  People and government were made aware of problems that were exciting but somehow hidden from mass public.  The government responded to the Beveridge Report, with a report of its own: the White Papers.  The differences between the two were preferential to the government.  Proposals of Political and Economic Planning (PEP) instituted unemployment insurance, and the success of PEP would be greatly based on the success, both in action and in public reception, of unemployment insurance.  This insurance did not cover everyone; some in the government wanted to cover groups like shopkeepers, farmers, and nurses, who had been excluded.

        Another issue facing unemployment insurance was the duration of the payments, i.e. how long should a person be covered?  Furthermore, what should the benefit structure and rate of pay be?  How should the rate of pay be calculated?   PEP was in favour of a six-month term and then the use of a means tested assistance payment, if necessary.  The unemployed would, in order to receive payment, be obligated to meet with representatives of the unemployment insurance, who would inquire as to the unemployed individual’s attempts to find work.

        Some, like the Fabians, wanted a flat rate and no time limit on the money that came in.  They also opposed the use of the means test.  This type of insurance would pay the rent of the unemployed and provide them with the means to live.  Opponents to the Fabians argued that such an insurance would make people lazy and avoid the search for work altogether, in which case the result would surely be a weakened economy through the combination of rising unemployment insurance costs (taxes) and the rising prices now necessary for owners to find quality employees.

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        The National Labour Organization wanted the insurance fund to work in a way that one being helped could not take advantage of the system.  They wanted a limit on the time someone could receive benefits.  Benefits, they argued, should be contingent on attendance to programs that trained you for suitable work.  This program would also require the benefactor, while unemployed, to be taking steps to find work.  If a person did not complete all required, that person came to be suspended for a period of time.

        Social Insurance received its money from many places, including contributions form the state and ...

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