Discuss Benefits of Welfare System in Britain Essay Example

another inspiring thing is the system’s universality. Any adult who have no job or any family whose total income is under the average line is entitled to financial help.

Anyone has worked for a certain period of time below the retirement age can get unemployment benefit. Even retired people who are still getting payment can get their pension after a certain age.Just like what the government of UK said, ’it is part of the job of government to help any citizen in need ’, the English are all involved in the welfare system ‘from the cradle to the grave’ (Driscoll,1995). Finally, the effects to keep civil rest, providing a harmonious environment for developing, adjusting different classes’ conflict are also the benefits of Britain’s welfare system. With all these benefits, the UK’s welfare system has made great contribution to the whole country.

Not only the government can have better statement but also publics may live better with the help of this system.Otherwise, several disadvantages and problems still exist in Britain’s welfare system. There are four drawbacks of Britain’s welfare system. The major problem was escalating costs during 1950 to 1975(Encarta, 2007). In 1965, the largest percent of public expenditure in Britain is the total cost of national insurance which had over ? 2000 million per annum. By 1975, ? 8918 million was spent on social security, and the National Health Service cost ? 6249 million (Encarta, 2007).

The potential of cost has increased so dramatically, the costs have rocketed.Believe or not, if everyone really gets benefits which are suitable for them, the system will reach its breaking point. The result is that governments and organizations have

to decide which people can get the help quicker, which should be waiting, and which probably have to wait for death. Also, some people argue that only certain group of people gain assistance and those people really need help are not covered. There are people who can get various benefits but do not get them. Maybe their not understanding of the state of the welfare system and not sure what they can apply for, or they probably are too proud to apply lead to this situation.

Furthermore, because some applications need to investigate person’s finance condition, it may let people feel that their privacy are invaded. On the other hand, people may get more money and live better when they can get benefits than times when they are working. So some people may be lazier. The last disadvantage is the slow speed of the welfare system. For example, if a National Health Service patient needs to do a non-urgent operation, it often needs a year for waiting, and it takes people who need relatively urgent operation at least a month to wait.

In conclusion, there are a number of factors that describe benefits and drawbacks of Britain’s welfare system. It has been argued that Britain’s welfare system has variety kinds of measures which satisfy different kind of people’s demand. Another important factor which was identified is the system’s universality. Nearly everyone in the country is involved in the system and is affected from birth to death. Finally, one of the benefits is the better condition of the whole country when affected by the system.

Keeping civil rest, providing a harmonious environment for developing, djusting different classes’ conflict

are some appearances of the results. In addition, it was noted that four drawbacks which include escalating costs, existing of people who do not benefits from welfare system though having the right, invading of people’s privacy and the slow speed of welfare system was mentioned. Although there are several benefits of Britain’s welfare system, some problems should be paid attention to in order to perfect the system. It seems that if Britain government try its best to solve the problems or reduce the drawbacks of welfare system, the whole country will develop better.

References: Driscoll,J. (1995) Britain. Oxford University Press. Microfost.

Welfare State. [online]. Available at:http://au. encarta. msn.

com/text_781539608__0/Welfare_State. html Grossman,D. (2007) Welfare - The British Position[Online],7 November. Available at:http://www. bbc.

co. uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/11/welfare_the_british_position. html[4 December 2007] Blair. T(2005)Interview with sky television on pensions[online],2 December. Available at:< http://www.

number10. gov. uk/output/Page8720. asp >[4 December 2007]