Is there a precedent for the governments interest in social security benefits reform?
The social security system is a central part of the political economy and every government, at least since the early 1970s, has dabbled with it. It is just too important to people’s lives to be ignored. Edward Heath’s Conservative government first introduced Invalidity Benefit and Attendance Allowance in 1970-1. It also brought in Family Income Supplement (the forerunner to Family Credit) for the low paid. The first national rent rebate scheme followed in 1972.
