National Insurance Act 1946


The National Insurance Act 1946 was a British Act of Parliament which established a comprehensive system of social security throughout the United Kingdom.

Contents

All persons of working age had to pay a weekly contribution and in return were entitled to a wide range of benefits, including Guardian’s Allowances, Death Grants, Unemployment Benefit, Widow’s Benefits, Sickness Benefit, and Retirement Pension.
Married women and a number of self-employed workers were not included under the schemes.
It followed the Ministry of National Insurance Act 1944 c. 46
Compulsory insurance against unemployment/illness paid by government, employer and worker contributions.

Significance

Nevertheless, according to the historian Kenneth O. Morgan, the Act constituted "a measure which provided a comprehensive universal basis for insurance provision that had hitherto been unknown".