Social security - Essay Example

?Sociology: Social Security Introduction Among the so many available streams, the stream of social security is chosen for this report. This report isbased on the local community. Social security is a wide topic which deals with providing protection to the deprived section of the society. Also, in this category protection is provided against the various social problems like unemployment, disability, poverty, orphans and old age. UK is the one of the developed nation of the world where standard of living is high and government is involved in such activities which ensures social security of its citizens. In this context, the UK government has created some departments also whose whole sole responsibility is to provide social security and increase confidence level among the deprived section of the society. In order to develop a report regarding the social security in the UK, a wide range of information is required. For this, departments’ official websites and some useful acts are used. In addition to this, local and central government’s websites are also useful. Local libraries, telephone directories, local council’s information office and such related place are visited to gather information about the social security report. For the discipline of sociology, social security is an important section which needs to be explored in order to gather some relevant information. Furthermore, social security is the area of concern for both local and central government as it represent the strong or weak status of the society. Therefore, government find it compulsory to start some activities which ensure the strong society in the country which support its citizens of every section (Legislation.gov.uk 2011). Findings Department for work and pension (DWP) and Department for social development are together handling the responsibility for administering the main social security benefits. The Department for work and pension (DWP) deals with problem of child poverty. Other than that it is a key player handling the welfare job of the government and carrier of the pension policy in the UK. It is the biggest public service delivery department in the UK and over 20 million customers come under its range. Along with this, the UK government fulfils its commitment of being transparent in public finances through this department. In addition to this, its major areas of concern are disability and carers services, the pension services and jobcentre plus. The department for social development (DSD) is mainly working in Ireland. It undertakes the responsibility of social security benefits, urban regeneration, pension and child support, community and voluntary sector development, housing and social legislation. DWP has an important section for jobseekers which is known as jobcentre plus. It provides assistance to the people of working age by informing them about the job opportunities and thus employers also get their vacancies fill. Thus, it works as a coordinator between employers and jobseekers. It is working in the direction of achieving the government’s aim of promoting independence and opportunity for all through modern and customer focused services. It has a view that providing work to the unemployed and economically inactive people is the best form of welfare. For this, it manages the supply of labour in very effective manner. In addition to this, it has replaced jobcentres because it provides help in both job-seeking and claiming benefits under one roof (Richmonshire District Council 2011). Child Support Agency, commonly known as CSA, is a part of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission or C-MEC. This agency undertakes the responsibility of upbringing and maintenance of the children whose parents are not living together. These parents may be married, had their same-sex civil partnership dissolved, divorced, cohabited or never lived together (Alternative Family Law Cohabitation 2011). As per one report of The Guardian, children’s upbringing may cost around ? 186000. Thus children are expensive hence this agency assesses the cost of bringing up a particular child and gets it from his/her parents. For this it goes directly to the employer and get from them a DEO i.e. deduction of earning order which takes the money from ones salary before she/he actually receives it (CSA Hell 2009). Employment and support allowance (ESA) is another form of social security in UK which is provided by the DWP. It is a benefit which is provided to the people who limited ability to work because of disability or other health conditions. In October 2008, it replaced the incapacity and income support paid incapacity grounds. It includes two elements viz contribution based and income based element. Contribution based benefits can be obtained if one has sufficient contribution in national insurance contribution. On the other hand, income based benefit can be obtained on the basis of one’s income and capital. ESA focuses on one’s ability to work like what they can do even if they are disabled. The guiding principle of this allowance is that people with disability or other health problems should be provided support while engaging them in an appropriate work for them. It is a national programme (Directgov 2011). Along with this, a social fund is created by European Union which was named European Social Fund (ESF). It was established with the aim of improving standard of living and employment opportunities. And, it does so by developing their potential and skills. In addition to this, it works as structural fund of EU which attempts to reduce the prosperity gap between the member states of European Union. In order to increase the social and economic cohesion, ESF goes to the less developed countries. In addition to this, this fund is utilised for low-income group people. Its elements are help for one-off expense, budgeting loans, maternity grants, community care grants, funeral payments, cold weather payments, crisis loans. Thus, this fund helps both underprivileged nations and people. It is important because it is created by the contribution of various countries and utilised for them and their people. The current benefit rate for the old age pension for a single person is ?97.65 per week and for a couple it is ? 156.15 per week (Embrace Australia 2011). The trend of old age pension in the UK was started by Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer, Llyod George during 1900s. It covered the people who were over the age of 70 and had an income less than 12s. In 1911, some changes were introduced in its system and it became a part of National Insurance. Thus, it turned in to contribution based system and it was necessary for every wage earner that they make contribution under the heading of pension, illness and unemployment In addition to this, the current rate of jobseekers allowances for a single person is ? 65.45 a week whereas for a couple it is ?102.75 (Hoax-Slayer 2010). The rate of child benefit for the first child is ?20.30 and for the additional children it is ?13.40 per child (HM revenues and customs 2011). Along with all these benefits tax credit benefits are also paid to needy people. In UK, tax credits are paid by the government to the people who have responsibility of at least one child or young person or on low income. One who is taking care of one young person or child is entitled for getting child tax credits whereas one whose income is low is entitled for working tax credits. One can be entitled for both child and working tax credits (Directgov 2011). If one feels that benefits provided him/her under social security benefits are not appropriate or the assessment of the benefit is not right then he/she can appeal against the decision of that benefit. In such case, one can ask the concerned department to reconsider the decision and explain it. If still one’s expectations are not fulfilled then one can appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal. The concerned office sends the beneficiary a letter about their decision, if he does not agree with this decision he can ask for explanation or reconsideration (Hoax-Slayer 2010). Although in some benefit decisions one cannot appeal which include crisis loan, community care grants, budgeting loans. In addition to this, one has time of one month for asking for reconsideration and explanation. After that one more month to appeal against that reconsidered decision. Then one can appeal by filling the appeal form in the leaflet and post it to the benefits office. Thus, appeals can be made against child maintenance, housing benefits and housing tax benefits, benefits for disabled people, tax credits and so on. The social security and child support appeals tribunal is the first-tier tribunal where tribunals are heard. Other than this prescribed procedure, one can seek advice and help from the citizens advice bureau (CAB), age concern, local welfare rights group, solicitors, law centres and trade unions (Tameside 2011). In UK, the child support act was formulated in 1991. It was created with the aim of providing complete maintenance to the children. It provides a complete guideline in relation to the maintenance of the children to the parents so that they cannot run away from their right. The main aim of this act is to ensure welfare and protecting financial interest of the children across the UK. In this context, various family and divorce laws are also formulated so as to provide protection to the children. During the painful divorce, children are in most vulnerable situation and the common aim of all these laws are to protection of children’s financial interest and a natural upbringing. Though the modern judiciary system is continuously trying to protect the right of children of having a proper maintenance from their parents yet an effective route of payment of child maintenance is still need to be discovered. It should be for all children whether they are born within or outside marriage. The basic principle of this act is to make the parents realise that maintaining their child is their responsibility. All the qualifying children have a right to obtain maintenance from their parents. Here the term qualifying children means children who are either both or one of the parents are absent parents. Furthermore, the parents are called absent parents if they are not living in the same household or child is living with a person who is person in care (Tameside 2011). As per this act, a child is entitled to get maintenance until he or she obtains the age of 17 or cease full time secondary education, whichever is later. There can be no clean break in terms of dismissal of maintenance right between parents and child. Therefore, this act laid down that it is responsibility of the parents to provide financially for their children. The act came into force on 5 April 1993. Further this act was amended in 1995 and by the legislation of child support pension and social security act 2000. As an outcome of this act, child support agency was set up. Through the legislation of 2000, some changes were introduced in the act which simplifying the system both for parents and for those who working for the CSA. Child support assessment was also improved by this legislation, though the basic principle much or less remained the same. The amount of maintenance of the child should be paid to the parent in care of the child by the natural parents, even if they assumed the financial responsibility of the child in past. Here the natural parents should not be a resident in the child’s household. The act does not provide these arrangements for step-children. Along with this, the act does not cover various elements like school fees. Furthermore, this act is not applicable if the child is resident outside UK, the absent parents are located outside UK and parent in care is resident outside UK (Legislation.gov.uk. 2011). However, the act covers the children who are 17 year old or 19 year old if their full time education is yet to complete. The method of calculating the amount of maintenance for the children is also provided by the act. Here the amount of maintenance of the children depends on the income and number of the children of the absent parents. In addition to this, the non-resident parents have to pay 15% of their net income for one child, 20% of net income for two children, and 25% of net income for three or more children. Thus, this act includes all the aspects for protecting the best interest of a child. For certain reasons, there are so many parents who are not able to be with their parents and take care of them. In such circumstances, this act of the UK government pressurise the parents for at least paying for their child’s maintenance. There are so many parents who views CSA which is the working arm of this act as hell because it deducts their salary amount before they actually receives it. However, from children’s point of view it is working for good of everyone. If any such act has not been set up for the protection of the children then lives of thousands of the children can be at stake. Therefore, from society’s point of view also this act is working in the right direction otherwise children may not be able to get appropriate education and move towards a wrong path. This can not only disturb their lives but also so many other lives get hurt. Hence, such acts demonstrate powerful and deep thought of the think-tank of the government’s law-maker. In addition to this, these acts make the society worth living and available for everyone even if their parents have refused to their upbringing. The labour government has decided that one of its main aims in its new tenure will be abolition of child poverty from UK by 2020. Child poverty has considerably been increased in UK in past 30 years. In 1968, it is 1.4 million children and now it is 4.3 million children. In comparison to other rich countries UK has more children in poverty. Therefore, there is pressure from the counterparts also. So, labour government is committed to abolish child poverty from UK. For this purpose, it is reviewing national child poverty strategy, child poverty act and role of poverty unit. Labour government is committed to abolish poverty for making an impactful mark in its current tenure. This move of the government will not only transform the lives of the millions of the children but also the society as a whole. In this context, it has empowered the department for work and pension (DWP) which is a working arm for such activities of government. Life of one child has impact on his own family and community and by improving the child’s chances in life; life of complete family can be empowered. Therefore, government has formulated a programme for tackling the child poverty in the forthcoming years. For this, government’s approach is to directly hit at the causes of the disadvantages, eradicate the child poverty and transforming millions of families’ lives. The core of this approach is to support the most vulnerable, strengthening families, guaranteeing fairness, encouraging responsibility and promoting work. For this aim of the government, the child poverty act was introduced in 2009 and also obtained royal assent in 2010. According to this, the secretary of state needs to achieve four objectives of government for abolishing the child poverty by 2020. It requires a strategy every three years (first being in spring 2011) to meet these targets and report annually on progress. The Act conveys duties on local authorities. Furthermore, the labour government has set up a child poverty unit which provides a common platform to various departments to work together. These departments include department for work and pension, HM treasury and department for education. The labour government is putting in its best efforts to abolish child poverty by 2020 so that it can add one more feather to its hat (Moore 2002). In the 2010, general elections were held in the UK and no party emerged with majority in the House of Commons then the conservative and liberal democrats formed coalition and get into the power. For keeping its words of welfare, the coalition came up with welfare reform bill 2011 on 16th February. It was created to bring a change in the system of the welfare. It is based on the commitment made in the coalition agreement and Queen’s speech. It ensures that people get work and also get paid for that. Along with this, it makes the tax credits systems and benefits fairer for the most vulnerable in the society. It has been noticed that people develop a tendency on living the social security benefits and hesitate to start working because of their perception of financial risk. In addition to this, many of such people are of the view that whatever they earn from such work is very low and wipe out in transportation cost only. Thus, the coalition government identified two major problems in the system viz complexity in the system and poor rate of incentives. Reforms were introduced in the system by appreciating people to work and improve their situation. Reforming the benefit system aims to make it fairer, more affordable and better able to tackle poverty, workless-ness and welfare dependency. For this, some measures have already been announced in budget and spending review. The coalition government undertook the responsibility of the overhaul of the benefit system so as to achieve the aim of personal responsibility and zeal for work among the people who are depended on welfare benefits. Overall, it can be said that the coalition government of conservative and liberal democrats realised that there is huge need of improving the welfare system because people have increasing tendency of welfare dependency. The government wants Britain to work and not to be depended on government’s any social security benefits. The reforms aim to improve the working tendency among the people (Moore 2002). Impact of social policy Some continuous changes are made in the public service provisions. These changes affected every section of society whether it is women, children, minority groups, old age people or people with disability. However, children and young people are considered as most affected ones as in early childhood years they are totally depend on their parents. Public service is a wide term which is government’s helping hand towards the whole society but specially the underprivileged section of the society. It includes services like healthcare, water supply, fire services, education, waste management, welfare services, social services, social housing, and public transportation and so on. English government published a paper which is called every child is special. The name of this paper itself indicates that government is seriously indulged in protecting the interests of the children across UK. The impact of this policy can be seen across the UK as conditions of the children are improving continuously. The policy of every child is special is mainly focuses on well-being children and young people of age 19. It has contributed to improve the level of health, safety, economic well-being, positive contribution from children and enjoy achievement. Along with this, it has successfully brought together various government and non-government organisation to team up for various services. These services range from school to hospitals (Birrell 2009). In previous years, thousands of children have experienced crime against them. Hence the uppermost priority of this policy is safeguarding the children. After the changes in the public service provisions, there is major change in the local arrangements for safeguarding children. These local arrangements are inspected by the eight inspectorates of public services (Ditch 2002). These inspectorates are the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), The Healthcare Commission (CHAI), HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMiP), HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), HM Magistrates Inspectorate of Courts Administration (HMICA), and The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). In addition to this, child poverty is also a major problem in the UK which is catered by the abolition of child poverty 2020 plan. The figures indicate that number of children in poverty is decreasing gradually. Along with this, maintenance of children in case of parents’ divorce or any such circumstance increase insecurity among the children. Therefore, child support bill was passed in the parliament and a working agency named child support agency was created. This agency get maintenance amount for the children from their parents and ensure their well-being and proper maintenance. Thus, with the changes in the public service provisions, children and young people in the UK are benefitted to a great extent. So they are also making rich contribution in uplifting society (Ditch 2002). Conclusion The above discussed paper is report which is based on a local community in the UK. In this report, the social security provisions of the local regions are undertaken. It is the basic responsibility of the government to protect its citizens against the certain hazardous situations occurs in the society by providing them some benefits. In context to this, UK government has reformed its department of social security into the department of work and pension which is a comprehensive form of this department. In the chosen stream of the social security, it is found out that there are various provisions that have been created for ensuring social security in the country (Spicker 2010). These policies have been proved very helpful for the people who are targeted to be benefited through it. There are five types of social security benefits which are provided to the needy people in the UK. These include social insurance that is paid on the basis of contribution, discretionary benefits that is social assistance for those who are not covered otherwise, mean-tested benefits are for low income people, universal benefits which are paid irrespective of needs or tests of means like old age pension ad family allowances, non-contributory benefits are provide on the basis of the need like people with disabilities (UKIP Policies 2010). Under the above mentioned headings of the benefits, various categories of benefits and agencies are formed so as to provide benefits to the needy people. For example, for unemployed people, there are various social security benefits are available like jobseekers’ allowances and jobcentre plus. Jobseekers’ allowances help the unemployed to live their life in respectful manner. In addition to this, jobcentre plus provides the jobseekers and employer a common platform where they can meet and mutually help each other as both of them need each other. Along with this, employment and support allowances are also paid to the unemployed people so that they can search for job suitable for their calibre. In order to form a safety net around the most vulnerable of the society income support allowances are also created (UKIP Policies 2010). The most important benefits which work this way are Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Housing allowance is also one of them which ensure their own house for everyone. In addition to this, there is also pension which is a most suitable method of social security. It is paid for two categories; one belongs to low-income group and second belongs to old age people. Low income group are not able to undertake all the household responsibilities hence government assist them by providing pension. Similarly, people in old age are not fit enough to work for their livelihood hence it is government’s obligation to pay pension to the senior citizens of the country (Spicker 2010). Furthermore, child benefit is one form of the social benefits which is paid to ensure well-being the children in the society. In this context, family allowances are also paid. Child Benefit is flat-rate, not age-related. Child benefit is provided for certain reasons like providing protection to the working poor, paying mother who have no other income, avoiding the problems like stigma and poverty trap, for high take-ups. The basic argument for child benefit is; it is simpler to administer. Children are future of every country and keeping this point in mind the UK government formulated a policy of “every child is special.” This policy strengthens the ground for creating the child support bill. This bill is again very important from children’s point of view as it strengthen the position of children in the society (UKIP Policies 2010). While extending the provisions of the child support bill; an agency called child support agency (CSA) was also created which is working for the maintenance and upbringing of the children whose parents are absent parents. Thus, it safeguards the children whose parents are divorced or not living together. Thus, on the basis of the above discussion it can be said that it is not only government’s duty to provide the safety net to its citizens but also the social right of citizens to obtain these benefits from the government. 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