Unit 9: English for Social Services

Index:

Aims and Objectives

In this unit you will learn and practise vocabulary related to social services.

You will practise the following skills and functions:

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

adopción
subsidio/suplemento
solicitud
solicitante de asilo
otorgado
subsidio
atención
ayuda familiar
reclamación
comunidad
contributivo
consejos/apoyo
centro de día
personas a cargo
invalidez
desaventajado
con derecho a
casa de acogida
salud
seguro
padre/madre soltero/a
manutención
estudio económico
emigrante/inmigrante
enfermera
huérfano
plan de pensiones
cotización
ocio
rehabilitación
residencia 3ª edad
jubilación
derechos
salario
plan
servicios sociales
asistente social
ayuda
solicitar
evaluar
otorgar
reclamar
subvencionar/financiar
tener derecho a
desempleo
minusvalía visual
trabajo voluntario
sueldo
bienestar
viuda

Exercises

Section 1: Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1: Test Yourself

Exercise Help

Fill in the correct translation for each of the terms below.

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Section 2: Listening Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. At the moment Patrick is:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. What has Patrick done for the past two years?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. How long did he work in his last job?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Did he pay social insurance contributions in the last job?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Did he pay social insurance contributions in the previous jobs?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. What has Patrick come to find out about?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. What is Jacky's present situation?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Why has the baby's father gone away?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Which is correct?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. What does Jacky want to claim?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. What is the clerk going to do?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. The Blind Person's Pension is paid to:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. To qualify for the Pension you must have:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. The payment you receive:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. You will also receive:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. The Blind Welfare Allowance is:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. How much is the Blind Pension rate for people under 66?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. The increase per week for a dependent child is:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Over the age of 66 the rate:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Do you still get an increase for a dependent child if you are over 80?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 5: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Since her husband died Annie has been:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Carol will no longer be able to care for her mother because :
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Payment for the home will be covered by:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Section 3: General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

Exercise Help

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. There are different kinds of benefits and allowances.


    ?
  2. Unemployment benefit and unemployment allowance are not the same thing.


    ?
  3. Unemployment benefit is for people who have paid insurance contributions.


    ?
  4. A prison allowance is paid to people in prison.


    ?
  5. You can get child support even if you aren't married.


    ?
  6. The visually impaired need an eye test to get a Blind Person's Pension.


    ?
  7. A woman whose husband has died is usually entitled to a widow's pension.


    ?
  8. The cost of living in a residential home is always covered by the State.


    ?
  9. Some old people need more care and nursing than others.


    ?

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Exercise Help

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Press Play to listen to the instructions:

Section 4: Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

Exercise Help

In this exercise, respond to a statement in the Present Perfect with a question beginning with `When ..' in the Simple Past.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

I've applied for a pension.
When did you apply?

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 2: Transformation

Exercise Help

In this exercise, respond to a question in the Present Perfect with an answer in the Simple Past, using `last week'.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

I've found my travel pass.
Where did you find it?

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 3: Transformation

Exercise Help

In this exercise, respond to a question in the Present Perfect with an answer in the Simple Past, using `last week'.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

Have you applied for benefit yet?
Yes, I applied last week.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 4: Transformation

Exercise Help

In this exercise, you will hear a question in the Present Perfect. Answer in the affirmative using the Present Perfect and `already'. Be careful with the position of `already'!

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

Have you received the money yet?
Yes, I've already received it.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 5: Transformation

Exercise Help

In this exercise, you will hear a question in the Present Perfect. Answer in the negative using the Present Perfect and `yet'.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

Have you received the money yet?
No, I haven't received it yet.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 6: Selections

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  2. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  3. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  4. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  5. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  6. a. 
    b. 
    ?

Section 5: Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

Exercise Help

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. The Social Welfare Department is responsible for a number of schemes.


    ?
  2. Child Benefit depends on Social Insurance contributions.


    ?
  3. Social assistance payments are paid for by State funding.


    ?
  4. Social Insurance contributions are related to wages or salary.


    ?
  5. If you pay Social Insurance you are entitled to Unemployment Benefit.


    ?
  6. A claimant must satisfy a means test to qualify for Social Assistance.


    ?
  7. Lone Parents receive a Social Assistance Allowance.


    ?
  8. Child Benefit is paid only to families with a low income.


    ?
  9. A means test decides how much Social Assistance you can receive.


    ?
  10. Social Assistance schemes are financed entirely by the State.


    ?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Exercise Help

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the > key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording: show transcript
?

Exercise 3: Cloze

Exercise Help

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:

? Social Welfare Department is responsible ? a number of social insurance and social assistance schemes, including unemployment, illness, maternity, caring, widowhood, retirement and old age. Payments are generally divided ? three groups: Firstly, contributory payments ? made on the basis ? Social Insurance contributions related to the wages or salary a worker receives. Secondly, Social Assistance (or non-contributory) payments are made on the basis of a means test. Thirdly, payments ? as Child Benefit or Free Travel do not depend on a ? test or on Social Insurance contributions related to wages or salary.

Payments made ? the social insurance system are funded by contributions from employers and employees. ? deficit is met by State subsidy. Entitlement to social insurance benefits depends on the person claiming (the claimant) having paid a certain number of contributions in a specific period of time. On the ? hand, social assistance payments do not depend on contributions made by the claimant, and are paid for by State funding.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Exercise Help

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. If you are unemployed , you can ____ unemployment benefit.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. To apply for an allowance you must ____ an application form.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Carol will no longer be able to ____ her mother.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. They haven't chosen a home ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. The payment you receive is ____ of a personal rate for you and a payment for your dependants.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. The child's father has been sent to prison ____ two years.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. Social Assistance is paid only to families with a ____ income.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. The social insurance system is funded by ____from employers and employees.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. Any deficit is met by State ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  10. With a Travel Pass you can travel on State public transport for ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  11. Workers receive ____ for their work.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  12. ____ parents receive a Social Assistance Allowance.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  13. Carol has accepted a new ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  14. Fill in an application form so that we can ____ your situation..
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  15. Have you been employed in the____ year?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  16. What do you ____ , 'he's gone away'?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  17. Nice ____ guy!
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  18. Payments are generally ____ into three groups.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  19. The last company I worked for has closed ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  20. Certain people with ____ vision may also qualify
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Checklist

Use the following list to check whether you have obtained full benefit from this unit. You should be able to:

You should also have greater skill and confidence in the use of:

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