Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 The Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed in 1908. The Act is often regarded as one of the foundations of modern social welfare in the United Kingdom and forms part of the wider social welfare reforms of the Liberal Government of 1906–1914. Individuals over the age of 70 years got a total of 5 Shillings per week and couples over the age of 70 years got a total of 7 Shillings 5 Pence per week. The Act provided for a non-contributory old age pension for people over the
Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 age of 70, with the cost being borne by younger generations. It was enacted in January 1909 and paid a weekly pension of 5s a week (7s 6d for married couples) to half a million who were eligible. The level of benefit was deliberately set low to encourage workers to also make their own provision for retirement. In order to be eligible, they had to be earning less than £31. 10s. per year, and had to pass a 'character test'; only those with a 'good character' could receive the pensions. One also had to have been a UK resident for