The neoliberal capitalist crisis of 2008 brought to light poverty and destitution in our societies. In Spain, 13 million people live in poverty, structural unemployment is over 20% and levels of insecurity have risen in all sectors and social groups. In the EU, 120 million live in poverty, while globally, wealth is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands. What mechanisms has the neoliberal hegemonic discourse employed to address these levels of poverty, inequality and insecurity? What role does education play in social policies aimed at combatting exclusion in a neoliberal order? Privatisation of the public sector, an emphasis on individual responsibility, an education in entrepreneurship and the consolidation of bureaucratic, charitable and punitive intervention procedures are some of the features that characterise the emerging hegemonic neoliberal new humanitarian discourse on poverty. This article attempts to analyse the role of neoliberal social policies targeting the most disadvantaged groups and the associated changes being imposed on welfare states, looking specifically at the emergence of a hegemonic new humanitarian discourse of a markedly neoliberal nature. However, wherever there is a hegemony, there is also resistance and alternatives, and thus three emerging socio-educational proposals are also analysed that seek to move forwards in a more inclusive and supportive direction contrary to the one indicated by neoliberal thought, towards building fairer and more egalitarian societies. These are: a basic income, guaranteed employment and an education in critical and emancipatory resistance.