Catalogue description Unemployment Assistance Board and Assistance Board: Second World War Assistance, Registered Files

Under the Unemployment Assistance (Prevention and Relief of Distress) Regulations 1939 and the Unemployment Assistance (Prevention and Relief of Distress) (Refugees) Regulations 1941 the board was empowered to grant allowances to persons who were in need as a direct result of the war who would not otherwise have been eligible under the Unemployment Assistance Act 1934. Persons eligible for assistance were mainly those evacuated under Government schemes, refugees (including alien refugees) and those who were deprived of their normal means of support owing to the war.

The board also acted as agents for the Ministry of Pensions and were responsible for the administration of part of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Schemes which dealt with temporary injury allowances granted to civilian casualties whilst their claims to pension were being considered by the ministry.

The board also undertook on behalf of the service departments and the Ministry of Pensions the work of investigating the circumstances of persons for whom a dependant's allowance or war service grant had been claimed. Investigation only was carried out whilst entitlement to and the assessment of claims was left to the relevant department.

The advance payments of compensation for war damage made by the board in 1940 as agents for the Treasury and later under the War Damage Acts were restricted to cover replacement of tools for business purposes, essential clothing and furniture.