This system was designed to make sure at least some work was found for each able-bodied pauper. Able-bodied paupers would be given a ticket by the overseer to give to a potential employer for work. Once the work was completed, the pauper would get the ticket signed and returned to the overseer where the farmer would pay part of the wage and the parish would pay the rest. This wage could be based on the price of bread, the size of a family or a flat rate. However, many farmers took advantage of this, only paying workers the bare minimum.