Public Alms (Great Nortend)

The Public Alms scheme is the state benefit programme in Great Nortend. It provides a number of welfare services for Erbonian subjects including housing, pensions, poor relief, legal alms and medical alms. The scheme is administered by the Lord High Almoner and the Board of Almoners. The modern Public Alms scheme is authorised under the Lord High Almoner's Act 18 Edm. IX p. 44 passed in 1920 which created the Board of Almoners. The scheme does not include other state services, such as public schooling, police services or fire services, which are provided under different arrangements.

Types of Alms

The Lord High Almoner currently provides alms in sixteen different categories. These are: Common Alms

• Old-age pension
• Widow's pension
• Orphan's pension
• Invalidity pension
• Housing alms
• Sick alms
• Unemployment alms
• Legal alms

Medical Alms

• Consultation services
• Treatment services
• Surgery services
• Hospital services
• Nursing services
• Medicament services
• Appliance services

Especial Alms

Eligibility

Common Alms

Subjects become eligible for Common Alms based upon their years of contributions to the Public Insurance scheme. The fortnightly minimum value of Public Insurance contributions is based upon the salary or wage of the contributor, as well as living circumstances. A family, including husband, wife and children, are covered under a single Public Insurance contribution rate, which is one and a half times that of an ordinary worker. Families with more than two children incur increased contributions.

A person will be eligible for Full Alms if he has contributed to the Public Insurance scheme for over thirty-five years. A person is eligible for Three-Quarter Alms if he has contributed for over twenty-five years. A person is eligible for Half Alms if he has contributed for over fifteen years. A person is eligible for Quarter Alms if he has contributed for over five years. The value of most pensions are calculated based upon the number of years of contributions paid into the scheme. Similarly, the provision of almshouses, sick alms, unemployment alms and legal alms are all based upon Public Insurance contributions.

For those persons who by reason of invalidity have not contributed sufficiently to the Public Insurance scheme, a deemed number of years for contribution is calculated based upon the degree of invalidity, age, living circumstances and means.

Medical Alms

Eligibility for Medical Alms is not entirely based upon Public Insurance contributions. All subjects are entitled to Basic Medical Alms, which covers (despite its name), a quarter of the charged fee, up to the maximum amount prescribed in the Medical Schedule to the Lord High Almoner's Rules. Subjects who receive Quarter, Half, Three-Quarter or Full Common Alms or would be eligible for the corresponding grade of Medical Alms, which covers a third, half, two thirds and all of the charged fee, up to the maximum amount prescribed.