The National Health Service is financed through general taxation, with National Insurance payments contributing some 14 percent of the total cost, and patients'fees contributing 4 percent 2. Social Security Program 1)Sickness benefits If a person becomes unable to work because of sickness, he receives pay ments from the insurance fund. If a person becomes unable to work as a result of accidental injury at work, or of sickness caused by the cond itions of his work, he is entitled to a special type of benefit at a higher rate 2)Unemployment benefits If a person becomes unemployed, he receives payments from the insurance fund The amount varies from f5 for a single man to more than f 10 for a married man a p receive this benefit depends on the length of time for which he has already been paying contributions into the insurance fund. Thus, a man may get such benefit for a period between 5 and 19 months 3)Retirement Pensio The retirement pension is given to any man from the age of 65 and any woman from 60 if he or she has made his weekly contributions to the fund. A man may continue to work full time after he is 65 and in that case he gets no pension at first, but when he is over 70, he gets a bigger pension whether he works or not. If he has some arnings from part-time job, his pension is reduced. Of course, the reduction is less than his earnings. In 1974, the normal rate of pension was about f 40 per month for a man or a woman alone, and f70 for a married couple. Some people can get add itional pensions by paying higher contributions while they are working Besides the pensions, the state also provides for the old residential homes (Ase) 4)Family Allowances Every mother who has more than one child may receive pay ment through the Post Office. Usually, she gets 90 pence a week for her second child and fl for each following child until they leave school. Thats to say, a mother with three children may receive fl, 90 a week. If she has four children, she will get f2, 90 5)widows benefits These are special payments for widows who have children. They are paid for six months after the husband 's death and continue afterward s if the widow is over 50 or has children to support 6) Maternity Grants These are payments for women in pregnancy, or in giving birth to children9 The National Health Service is financed through general taxation, with National Insurance payments contributing some 14 percent of the total cost, and patients’ fees contributing 4 percent. 2. Social Security Program 1) Sickness benefits If a person becomes unable to work because of sickness, he receives payments from the insurance fund. If a person becomes unable to work as a result of accidental injury at work, or of sickness caused by the conditions of his work, he is entitled to a special type of benefit at a higher rate. 2) Unemployment benefits If a person becomes unemployed, he receives payments from the insurance fund. The amount varies from ￡5 for a single man to more than ￡10 for a married man with three children to support. The amount of time for which a person is entitled to receive this benefit depends on the length of time for which he has already been paying contributions into the insurance fund. Thus, a man may get such benefit for a period between 5 and 19 months. 3) Retirement Pension The retirement pension is given to any man from the age of 65 and any woman from 60 if he or she has made his weekly contributions to the fund. A man may continue to work full time after he is 65 and in that case he gets no pension at first, but when he is over 70, he gets a bigger pension whether he works or not. If he has some earnings from part-time job, his pension is reduced. Of course, the reduction is less than his earnings. In 1974, the normal rate of pension was about ￡40 per month for a man or a woman alone, and ￡70 for a married couple. Some people can get additional pensions by paying higher contributions while they are working. Besides the pensions, the state also provides for the old residential homes (老人院). 4) Family Allowances Every mother who has more than one child may receive payment through the Post Office. Usually, she gets 90 pence a week for her second child and ￡1 for each following child until they leave school. That’s to say, a mother with three children may receive ￡1,90 a week. If she has four children, she will get ￡2,90. 5) Widow’s benefits These are special payments for widows who have children. They are paid for six months after the husband’s death and continue afterwards if the widow is over 50 or has children to support. 6) Maternity Grants These are payments for women in pregnancy, or in giving birth to children