Welfare Reform on the Web (November 2000): Services for the Disabled - Overseas

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES IN A LIBERALISED ECONOMY: A NZ CASE STUDY

S. Lawrence and M. Alam

International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol.13, 2000, p.186-205

Reform of the disability support services in New Zealand has led to the burden and costs of care being transferred from the state to the family, with little support for carers.

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMMES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

J. Dixon and M. Hyde

Disability and Society, vol.15, 2000, p.709-730

By the mid-1990s, 163 countries had statutory general disability programmes. Most have adopted social insurance as their primary policy instrument, which restricts coverage to those in paid, formal employment, makes benefit eligibility dependent upon the satisfying of specific minimum contribution period requirements and provides earnings-related pensions. Many countries also provide supplementary and special need benefits. Programme funding comes mainly from employer and employee contributions, with a majority of countries providing government subsidies.