Kōrero: Family welfare

This social-security certificate was issued to Violet May Philpott in 1939. At that time parents could only get the family benefit if their income was less than £5 a week ($444 in 2009 terms) and they had three or more children. The Social Security Act 1945 introduced a family benefit for each child, regardless of household income. Initially the benefit was not paid for children of unmarried mothers, but protests against this led to their inclusion. Violet Philpott’s certificate indicates that she was entitled to four shillings each week..