ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the work of the Special Welfare Officers within the Supplementary Benefits Commission and will analyse some of the issues and problems that arise from such a description. Special Welfare Officers at present help claimants with a variety of financial problems; such referrals fall fairly and squarely within the primary task of the organisation. There are also certain problems, mainly in relation to ‘unemployed men’ and suspected abuse which pose problems for the Special Welfare Officer and in which he has not been used as fully as would be desirable. Reference has been made to a certain insecurity and tension that exists on occasion between local offices and Special Welfare Officers.
