Means test
The English Poor Laws gave relief to people who were destitute.  Destitution was not defined in the law.   In workhouses  the rule was that conditions in workhouses had to be worse than conditions available outside. This was to stop people choosing not to help themselves.  The National Assistance Act 1948 gave help to people over 16, not in full time work, "who are without resources to meet their requirements, or whose resources must be supplemented in order to meet their requirements."   The National Assistance Board made rules about  resources and requirements but they were not public.  From 1966 there was Supplementary Benefit. The rules were very detailed and public. From 1966 there was Income Support, which was simpler but still public. All these benefits were stopped if a person did more than a very small amount of work.