Exercise 8. Make word combinations. Use them in the sentences of your own

1. A social policy is a decision made ___ public or governmental authorities.

2. ___ the most part, social policies address issues related ___ the social wellbeing of people ___ society.

3. Lawmakers and governmental officials formulate policies ___ a wide

4. The European commission ___ unification ___ social policies distinguishes

5. The term social welfare policy is often applied ___ those social policies

6. Some social policies fall ___ the category that can be called private social

7. The first type, known ___ the Bismarck policy (named ___ the German

8. Social benefits are earned ___ lifetime contributions ___ the welfare

Britain can claim to have been the first country in the world to have accepted

The most straightforward way in which people are helped is by direct payments of government money. Any adult who cannot find paid work, or any family whose total income is not enough for its basic needs, is entitled to financial help. This help comes in various ways and is usually paid by the Department of Social Security.

Anyone below the retirement age of sixty-five who has previously worked
for a certain minimum period can receive unemployment benefit (known as
“the dole”). This is organized by the Department of Employment.

All retired people are entitled to the standard old-age pension, provided that

Some people are entitled to neither pension nor unemployment benefit (because they have not previously worked for long enough or they have been unemployed for a long time). These people can apply for income support and if they have no significant savings, they will receive it. Income support is also sometimes paid to those with paid work but who need extra money, for instance because they have a particularly large family or because their earnings are especially low.

A wide range of other benefits exist. For example, child benefit is a small
weekly payment for each child, usually paid direct to mothers. Other examples
are housing benefit (distributed by the local authority, to help with rent payments),
sickness benefit, maternity benefit and death grants (to cover funeral expenses).

The system, of course, has its imperfections. On the one hand, there are people who are entitled to various benefits but who do not receive them. They may not understand the complicated system and not to know what they are entitled to,

The whole social security system is coming under increasing pressure because of the rising numbers of both unemployed people and pensioners. It is believed that if everybody actually claimed the benefits to which they are entitled,