ABSTRACT
There are few better ways of testing the limits and the content of social citizenship it is argued, than by concentrating on 'the margins of the welfare state' (Leibfned, 2000, p. 191). This Chapter draws on an in-depth comparative analysis2 of what might be conceptualised as the line at which these margins, in the form of exceptional need payments provided on a discretionary3 basis within social assistance schemes are drawn in Britain (the social fund), and the Netherlands (Bijzondere Bijsiand). The value of cross-national research in social policy has been recognised for increasing our understanding of social policies (Clasen, 1999). This Chapter aims to add to the existing research which compares either the relative nature, and/or the government systems and structures in place to meet the exceptional needs of social assistance beneficiaries in European countries (Craig, 1992; Ditch, 1995; Eardley et al, 1996).
