Vacant ticket (Direct Claim)

Part printed, part handwritten 'Vacant Ticket' issued by the Bromley Unemployment Office to an unemployed man making a direct claim for benefit. The ticket was issued to John Lovell, of Bromley, on 16/1/20. The terms and conditions of issue printed on the card specify that John Lovell should present the card each time he attended the Local Office of the Unemployment Fund to sign the unemployment register. Limited Unemployment insurance or benefit , first introduced in 1911 was extended in 1920. Benefits ensured survival but kept the unemployed well below the poverty line.