Social security

In the UK, "social security" refers to a collection of benefits granted to residents, including financial support such as pensions and relief for the unemployed.

I recommend: Review the UK’s approach to social security in depth at the Robert Gordon University.

Beveridge Report

Like its predecessor and successor agencies, the DSS's based its approach to social security and benefits on William Beveridge's 1942 report, "Social Insurance and Allied Services." Social security's purpose, as stated by Beveridge, was to ensure a standard of living "below which no one should be allowed to fall."

I recommend: Read an overview of the Beveridge Report at Social Care Online.

Department of Health and Social Security

The Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) was an agency that oversaw all social security, health and medical issues in the UK. DHSS split into two separate entities, separating its health function from its social security function. It formed the DSS as the sole agency overseeing social security functions in the UK.

I recommend: Review the statutory instrument that led to the creation of the DSS at the UK’s Office of Public Sector Information, which is part of the Crown copyright.

Benefits Agency

The Benefits Agency (BA) was an internal agency of the DSS, which handled all aspects of the payment of social security benefits, including providing information on benefits to the public. This agency had the distinction of spearheading expanded maternity benefits.

I recommend: Review the ways in which the BA helped create stronger benefits for women at the International Labour Organization.

Department for Work and Pensions

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), formed in 2001, replaced the DSS. The agency provides social security and work related information and benefits.

I recommend: Review the full list of benefits provided by DWP at its website.

Australian Department of Social Security

The Australian Department of Social Security (DSS) is a defunct government agency that covered similar sorts of social benefits as did the UK's DSS, making it easy to confuse the two in your research. In Australia, the Centrelink, which continues to provide services, replaced the DSS in 1997.

I recommend: Download the Centrelink Annual Report 1998-1999, which is its first report, to better understand how the Australian DSS became Centrelink.