When was the Means Test introduced?

When was the Means Test introduced?

• A. 1931
• B. 1929
• C. 1933
• D. 1935

Answer: (A)

This item tests knowledge of when Britain first introduced means-tested relief as part of its welfare system during the early 1930s. The Means Test was introduced in 1931, as part of the government’s response to the Depression. It required people claiming unemployment-related assistance to reveal their savings and assets, so that help could be limited to those with genuinely little means. This marked a shift away from universal eligibility toward targeted support, aiming to curb costs while directing aid to the neediest. The other dates aren’t associated with the introduction of this system: 1929 links to the onset of the economic crisis, while 1933 and 1935 refer to later developments rather than the start of means-testing.

This item tests knowledge of when Britain first introduced means-tested relief as part of its welfare system during the early 1930s. The Means Test was introduced in 1931, as part of the government’s response to the Depression. It required people claiming unemployment-related assistance to reveal their savings and assets, so that help could be limited to those with genuinely little means. This marked a shift away from universal eligibility toward targeted support, aiming to curb costs while directing aid to the neediest. The other dates aren’t associated with the introduction of this system: 1929 links to the onset of the economic crisis, while 1933 and 1935 refer to later developments rather than the start of means-testing.