Deserving Poor - GCSE History Definition

In GCSE History, the term 'Deserving Poor' means people who were poor but seen as worthy of help. These were usually people who were struggling because of old age, illness, or bad luck, not because they were lazy - 'Idle Poor'. They were seen as hardworking and morally good, so they “deserved” support. During the Elizabethan period, laws like the 1601 Poor Law separated the poor into two groups: the 'Deserving Poor' , who got help, and the 'Undeserving Poor', who were punished or forced to work. In Victorian Britain, this idea became even stronger. Many middle- and upper-class Victorians blamed the ‘Criminal Poor’ ('the Residuum') for crimes like the 'Jack the Ripper' murders while showing more sympathy for the 'Deserving Poor' living in harsh conditions. Understanding the term 'Deserving Poor' helps students see how attitudes towards poverty and social welfare changed over time.