The National Assistance Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 29) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by the Labour government of Clement Attlee. It formally abolished the Poor Law system that had existed since the reign of Elizabeth I, and established a social safety net for those who had not paid enough national insurance contributions to qualify for contribution based welfare payments (such as the homeless, the physically disabled, and unmarried mothers) and were therefore left uncovered by the National Insurance Act 1946 and the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946. It also provided help to elderly people who required supplementary benefits to make a subsistence living, and obliged local authorities to provide suitable accommodation for those who through infirmity, age, or any other reason were "in need of care and attention not otherwise available to them". The legislation also empowered local authorities to grant financial aid to organizations of volunteers concerned with the provision of recreational facilities or meals.Labour and inequality: sixteen fabian essays edited by Peter Townsend and Nicholas Bosanquet, London: Fabian Society, published in 1972 The Act also created a system of state run, or state administered, re-establishment centres, for those lacking regular occupation or sufficient training, to get them back into work, and resettlement centres, for homeless people, aimed at influencing them to lead a more settled life.
The National Assistance Board, which administered the National Assistance scheme, operated scale rates which were more generous than in the past. The rate for a married couple before the new service was launched, for instance, was 31 shillings (£) a week, and 40 shillings (£) a week when the new service was introduced, together with an allowance for rent. In addition, as noted by Denis Nowell Pritt, "In most cases where the applicant was a householder, the rent allowance was the actual rent paid."
Under Section 29 of the act, the power was granted to local authorities to promote the welfare of physically disabled individuals. The social needs of the mentally disabled were to be the responsibility of mental health departments which, being part of the new National Health Service, were to provide its services to all those who needed it, regardless of ability to pay.
Provisions Repealed enactments Section 62(3) of the act repealed 80 enactments, listed in parts I, II and III of the seventh schedule to the act. +Part I – The existing poor lawCitationShort titleExtent of repeal5 Geo. 1. c. 8Poor Relief (Deserted Wives and Children) Act 1718The whole act.5 Geo. 4. c. 83Vagrancy Act 1824In section three, the words from the beginning to "settled in such other parish, township, or place"; in section four, the words "every person running away and leaving his wife, or his or her child or children, chargeable, or whereby she or they or any of them shall become chargeable, to any parish, township, or place".5 & 6 Vict. c. 57Poor Law Amendment Act 1842The whole act.7 & 8 Vict. c. 101Poor Law Amendment Act 1844Sections six and seven; in section eight the words from the beginning to "misdemeanour"; section sixty-three.8 & 9 Vict. c. 117Poor Removal Act 1845The whole act.10 & 11 Vict. c. 33Poor Removal Act 1847The whole act.12 & 13 Vict. c. 103Poor Law Amendment Act 1849The whole act.20 & 21 Vict. c. 13Workhouse Sites Act 1857The whole act.20 & 21 Vict. c. 81Burial Act 1857Section six, so far as it authorises the consecration and use of new burial grounds.24 & 25 Vict. c. 76Poor Removal (No. 2) Act 1861The whole act.25 & 26 Vict. c. 113Poor Removal Act 1862The whole act.26 & 27 Vict. c. 89Poor Removal Act 1863The whole act.39 & 40 Vict. c. 61Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1876Sections nineteen, twenty-four and forty-two.63 & 64 Vict. c. 23Poor Removal Act 1900The whole act.20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. 17Poor Law Act 1930The whole act.24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 59Poor Law Act 1934The whole act.1 & 2 Geo. 6. c. 23Poor Law (Amendment) Act 1938The whole act. +Part II – The existing poor law in ScotlandCitationShort titleExtent of repeal8 & 9 Vict. c. 83Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845The whole act.19 & 20 Vict. c. 117Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1856The whole act.49 & 50 Vict. c. 51Poor Law Loans and Relief (Scotland) Act 1886The whole act.61 & 62 Vict. c. 21Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1888The whole act.11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. 64Poor Law Emergency Provisions (Scotland) Act 1921The whole act.13 & 14 Geo. 5. c. 6Local Authorities (Emergency Provisions) Act 1923The whole act.14 & 15 Geo. 5. c. 9Poor Law Emergency Provisions Continuance (Scotland) Act 1924The whole act.15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. 35Poor Law Emergency Provisions Continuance (Scotland) Act 1925The whole act.17 & 18 Geo. 5. c. 3Poor Law Emergency Provisions (Scotland) Act 1927The whole act.24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 52Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1934The whole act.