Welfare rights
Welfare rights means the rights of people to be aware of and receive their maximum entitlement to state welfare benefits, and to be treated reasonably well by the welfare system. It has been established in the
Welfare rights in the United Kingdom
Some
Welfare rights advice and representation is also provided by some
Welfare rights advisers generally offer expert lay legal advice in dealings with public departments, such as
Welfare rights advisers will generally:
- Check what benefits or tax credits people may be entitled to
- Assist with complex benefit application forms
- Advise and represent on all aspects of social security law, including entitlement to benefits, backdating, suspensions and overpayments
- Provide advocacy and representation before social security appeal Tribunals
Welfare rights advisers often use a
Welfare rights officers are often closely allied with campaigning groups and charities such as the
Welfare rights advisers' professional organization is the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) at a UK level; Scotland has its own professional association, Rights Advice Scotland (RAS).
Welfare rights in the United States
The Flemming Rule of 1960, named after Arthur Flemming, was an administrative ruling which decreed that states could not deny income assistance eligibility through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program on the basis of a home being considered unsuitable per the woman's children being termed as illegitimate.
In 1963 Johnnie Tillmon founded ANC (Aid to Needy Children) Mothers Anonymous, which was one of the first grassroots welfare mothers’ organizations, and which eventually became part of the National Welfare Rights Organization.[1]
The National Welfare Rights Organization, active from 1966 to 1975, was an activist organization that fought for the welfare rights of people, especially women and children. The organization had four goals: adequate income, dignity, justice, and democratic participation. Johnnie Tillmon was the first chair of the organization.[2]
King v. Smith, 392 U.S. 309 (1968), was a decision in which the Supreme Court held that Aid to Families with Dependent Children could not be withheld because of the presence of a "substitute father" who visited a family on weekends.
In April 1991 Cheri Honkala founded the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, a progressive social justice, political action, and advocacy group of, by, and for the poor and homeless which is operating out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and led by Galen Tyler.
References
- ^ "Tillmon, Johnnie (1926-1995); The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". The Black Past. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ISBN 0-8014-8943-1.
Bibliography
- Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (annual publication) Child Poverty Action Group. London.
- Disability Rights Handbook (annual publication). Disability Alliance. London.
- Bateman, N. (2006) Practising Welfare Rights Routledge. Oxford.