영국은 1920년 실업수당 제도를 도입했다. 그 이름은 '도울 dole'이었고, 실업 후 6개월 동안 지급했다.
그런데 영국정부는 실업수당 비용을 절감하기 위해서, 1931년부터 '자산과 소득 조사' 제도를 도입했다. 실업수당 신청자의 '소득과 자산' 크기를 조사해서, 정부 지원금액을 정한다는 취지였다.
그러나 많은 영국인들이 '자산과 소득 조사 . 민즈테스트 Means test'을 아주 싫어했다.
저축해놓은 돈이 조금 있거나 추가 소득이 있는 경우, 정부지원금이 감소됨.
자산-소득조사 공무원은 몰인정한 사람으로 간주되었고, 많은 가정의 자존심을 훼손했다.
예를들어, 청소년이 일자리가 있고, 엄마는 임시직, 조부모님들을 모시고 살 경우, '정부지원금 dole'이 감소됨.
피아노 같은 가보를 처분해야만 했고, '정부지원금' 신청 전에 저축해 놓은 돈을 다 써버려야 했다.
상황은 더 나빠졌다. 1931년 '정부지원금'은 10% 감소되었다.
The dole and the Means Test
People who lost their jobs depended on unemployment benefit, otherwise known as the dole. A person without work was entitled to benefit from the unemployment insurance scheme for the first six months.
However, to cut costs, the government introduced the Means Test in 1931. Officials visited families to assess whether they were entitled to help. This involved finding out how much the families earned or possessed.
In order to qualify for dole, a worker had to pass the Means Test, and the sum paid to each family would be based on this test.
Key fact
Families with some savings or a small additional income found their dole was reduced. The officials who carried out these tests were often seen as insensitive, and many families were offended.
The test created many problems for families. Tensions were caused because, if an older child had some work, or a mother had a part-time job, or a grandparent was living in the house without paying rent, the Means Test could result in dole being refused. Heirlooms and items such as pianos had to be sold, and savings spent before the dole was received.
To make matters even worse, the dole was cut by 10 per cent in 1931.
웨일즈 사람들이 '자산과 소득 조사 Means-Test'에 반대하는 시위를 벌이고 있다.
dole
1
a
(1)
: a grant of government funds to the unemployed
had been on the dole for a year
(2)
: a giving or distribution of food, money, or clothing to the needy
b
: something distributed at intervals to the needy
also : handout sense 1
c
: something portioned out bit by bit
2
archaic : one's allotted share, portion, or destiny
dole
2 of 3
verb
doled; doling
transitive verb
: to give or distribute as a charity —usually used with out
dole out food to needy families
dole
3 of 3
noun (2)
archaic
: grief, sorrow
Synonyms
Noun (1)
almsgiving
charity
philanthropy
Examples of dole in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a millionaire who was known for his annual Christmas dole to needy-looking strangers he met on the street
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Residents also grew frustrated, as migrants reluctantly snared in endless court proceedings appeared to be gaming the system and living off the taxpayers’ dole.
—Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
The result has been sporadic doles of grudging emergency funding to meet periodic crises, leaving little certainty about the future.
—Simon J. Potter, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2023
Verb
What the Americans are planning on doing, in essence, is pledging a year’s worth of aid all at once—instead of doling it out in small batches every few weeks.
—David Axe, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Local cultural agency Gertie rounded up about $400,000 in foundation funding and then doled it out to some very cool projects.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2024
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb
Middle English, from Old English dāl portion — more at deal entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English dol, from Anglo-French duel, dol, from Late Latin dolus, alteration of Latin dolor — see dolor
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of dole was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century
