Social Developments - Social Welfare Reforms

1924 social welfare reforms

• Modernisation of the Public Assistance system - provided to help the poor

1925 social welfare reforms

• Extended the state accident insurance system - helps those injured at work - extended to cover those suffering from occupational diseases

1927 social welfare reforms

• Introduced the national unemployment insurance system - provided benefits for the unemployed - financed by contributions from workers and employers

Expenses of the welfare system

• By 1926, the state was supporting 800,000 disabled war veterans, 360,000 war widows and over 900,000 war orphans

• In addition to old age pensions and after 1927 the unemployment benefits

• Means tests were tightened to ensure claimants were not cheating the system, and there were increasing delays in paying benefits

• Resulted in those in need of support and benefits feeling that they were being humiliated and insulted by the welfare system - undermining their support for the Weimar Republic