WELFARE STATES: Differences between the US and the UK Welfare States
The US and UK both use liberal welfare regime. They both have alike and unlike features. The need for paid work and private savings are escalated and are the least de-commodifying states. They both have exposure of people with intellectual disabilities to work activation. This results in recommodification and reduction in the value of benefits. They have similar pre-tax poverty which is usually more than halved by redistribution with taxes and benefits. Through different systems, they both provide free and compulsory children education.
The differences in US and UK welfare states are seen in how they mitigate poverty, provide social services and distribute social security. In the UK, national health is under the National Health Service (NHS), which is entirely funded by government revenues and covers close to 99% of its citizens. Under the NHS, all kinds of hospital treatment are free. Though centralized, the government health insurance in the US is only for public sector employees who also have to meet criteria for eligibility. There is, therefore, substantial reliance on private medical insurance, and some of the US citizens may end up without any cover at all. There are stipulated housing and housing allowance in the UK, whereas in the US there is only broadly run housing programs by city housing authorities and local government. Being in employment in the UK does not necessarily offer additional income protection. However, in the US, being in employment offers additional income protection with an ability to access private insurances.
US has, therefore, a weaker welfare state compared to the UK because the welfare state in the UK accumulatively has the best interest of low-income families and individuals in terms of healthcare as it is free and social security as it is comprehensive. The welfare state regime employed by the UK, which is centralized and encompasses all citizens is the better working system.