ABSTRACT

It appears that while social equality of course requires universal availability of the public service (though not necessarily completely universal use), it does not always require universal free availability. And there is all the difference, from the point of view of avoiding social differentiation, between a test of means which determines the right to use a service, and one which determines only the question of payment. Thus if beds in state hospitals were to be provided only for national assistance beneficiaries, or if old-age pensions were to be paid only subject to a means test, the sick or the elderly would be denied the right of unconditional access to the service; they would first have to apply to the State, and produce evidence of destitution. This would lay a clear mark of social inferiority on those who applied, who would openly confess themselves as incapable of selfsupport. The test of means is here both a denial of access unless certain conditions are satisfied, and a means of isolating the poorest section of the community.