Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-21T23:58:29.287Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The stigma of claiming benefits: a quantitative study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2015

BEN BAUMBERG
BEN BAUMBERG*
Affiliation:
School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, UK email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Stigma has long been viewed by some as essential to discourage excessive claims, yet seen by others as a cause of non-take-up by people in need and as a form of symbolic violence. More recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the links between shame and poverty (including the role of benefits), and particular concerns about media/political rhetoric in the UK. Yet while our knowledge of benefits stigma has been enhanced by theoretical/qualitative contributions, few quantitative studies examine its extent or patterning. This paper therefore reports the results of a 2012 nationally-representative survey in the UK. It finds sub-types of stigma are reported by 10–19 per cent for each benefit, but 34 per cent report either personal stigma (their own view) or stigmatisation (perceived stigma by others) for at least one benefit, and over one-quarter say a stigma-related reason would make them less likely to claim. One-third of claimants themselves report some degree of stigma around their claim. Against the predictions of ‘dependency culture’ claims, however, respondents in high-claim areas were more likely to stigmatise benefits, both before and after accounting for other factors. The paper concludes by considering lessons for future benefits stigma studies, and policy options to reduce benefits stigma.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 45 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 181 - 199
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Albrekt Larsen, C. (2006), The institutional logic of welfare attitudes: how welfare regimes influence public support, Aldershot: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Baumberg, B. (2012), ‘Three ways to defend social security in Britain’, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 20: 2, 149–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baumberg, B., Bell, K., Gaffney, D., with Deacon, R., Hood, C. and Sage, D. (2012), Benefits stigma in Britain, London: Elizabeth Finn Care/Turn2us.Google Scholar
Bertrand, M., Luttmer, E.F.P. and Mullainathan, S. (2000), ‘Network Effects and Welfare Cultures’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115: 3, 1019–1055.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Besley, T. and Coate, S. (1992), ‘Understanding welfare stigma: taxpayer resentment and statistical discrimination’, Journal of Public Economics, 48, 165–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breese, H. (2011), Views on eligibility for tax credits and Child Benefit and any stigma associated with claiming these, HM Revenue and Customs Research Report Number 150, London: HMRC.Google Scholar
Chase, E. and Walker, R. (2013), ‘The Co-construction of Shame in the Context of Poverty: Beyond a Threat to the Social Bond’, Sociology, 47: 4, 739–754.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Citizen's Commission on the Future of the Welfare State (1997), It's our welfare: report of the Citizens' Commission on the Future of the Welfare State, London: National Institute for Social Work on behalf of the Commission.Google Scholar
Clark, A.E. (2003), ‘Unemployment as a Social Norm: Psychological Evidence from Panel Data’, Journal of Labor Economics, 21: 2, 323–351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cox, I. (1968), ‘Families on welfare in New York City’, Welfare in Review, 6: 2, 22–26.Google Scholar
Craig, P. (1991), ‘Costs and benefits: a review of research on take-up of income-related benefits’, Journal of Social Policy, 20: 4, 537–565.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daponte, B.O., Sanders, S. and Taylor, L. (1999), ‘Why Do Low-Income Households not Use Food Stamps? Evidence from an Experiment’, The Journal of Human Resources, 34: 3, 612–628.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dean, H. and Taylor-Gooby, P. (1992), Dependency Culture: The Explosion of a Myth, Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheef.Google Scholar
Dunn, A. (2011), ‘Only fools? Reconsidering the relationship between commitment to the work ethic and educational attainment’, Journal of Education and Work, 26: 1, 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finn, D., Mason, D., Rahim, N. and Casebourne, J. (2008), Problems in the delivery of benefits, tax credits and employment services, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Garthwaite, K. (2014), ‘Fear of the Brown Envelope: Exploring Welfare Reform with Long-Term Sickness Benefits Recipients’, Social Policy & Administration, 48: 7, 782–798.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goffman, E. (1963), Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity, New York: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Golding, P. and Middleton, S. (1982), Images of welfare: press and public attitudes to welfare, Worcester: Billing & Sons Limited.Google Scholar
Gubrium, E.K. and Lødemel, I. (2014), ‘Towards global priniples for dignity-based anti-poverty policies’, in Gubrium, E. K., Pellissery, S. and Lødemel, I. (eds.), The Shame Of It: global perspectives on anti-poverty policies, Bristol: Policy Press.Google Scholar
Handler, J.F. and Hollingsworth, E.J. (1969), ‘Stigma, privacy and other attitudes of welfare recipients’, Stanford Law Review, 22: 1, 1–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jo, Y.N. (2013), ‘Psycho-social dimensions of poverty: When poverty becomes shameful’, Critical Social Policy, 33, 514–531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, W.-S. and Oguzoglu, U. (2007), ‘Income Support and Stigma Effects for Young Australians’, Australian Economic Review, 40: 4, 369–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Major, B. and O'Brien, L.T. (2005), ‘The social psychology of stigma’, Annual Review of Psychology, 56, 393–421.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murray, C. (1990/1996), ‘The Emerging British Underclass’, in Lister, R. (ed.), Charles Murray and the Underclass: The Developing Debate, London: Institute of Economic Affairs Health and Welfare Unit.Google Scholar
Page, R. (1984), Stigma, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Pemberton, S., Sutton, E. and Fahmy, E. (2013), A review of the qualitative evidence relating to the experience of poverty and exclusion, Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK (PSE) Working Paper - Methods Series No. 22.Google Scholar
Pinker, R. (1971), Social Theory and Social Policy, London: Heinemann Educational Books.Google Scholar
Rege, M., Telle, K. and Votruba, M. (2012), ‘Social Interaction Effects in Disability Pension Participation: Evidence from Plant Downsizing* ’, The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 114: 4, 1208–1239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reyles, D.Z. (2007), ‘The Ability to go about Without Shame: A Proposal for Internationally Comparable Indicators of Shame and Humiliation’, Oxford Development Studies, 35: 4, 405–430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers-Dillon, R. (1995), ‘The dynamics of welfare stigma’, Qualitative Sociology, 18: 4, 439–456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seccombe, K., James, D. and Walters, K.B. (1998), ‘“They Think You Ain't Much of Nothing”: The Social Construction of the Welfare Mother’, Journal of Marriage and Family, 60: 4, 849–865.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sen, A. (1983), ‘Poor, Relatively Speaking’, Oxford Economic Papers, 35: 2, 153–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shildrick, T. and MacDonald, R. (2013), ‘Poverty talk: how people experiencing poverty deny their poverty and why they blame ‘the poor’’, The Sociological Review, 61: 2, 285–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spicker, P. (1984), Stigma and social welfare: Croom Helm.Google Scholar
Stone, D.A. (1984), The Disabled State, Philadelphia: Temple University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuber, J. and Kronebusch, K. (2004), ‘Stigma and Other Determinants of Participation in TANF and Medicaid’, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 23: 3, 509–530.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stuber, J. and Schlesinger, M. (2006), ‘Sources of stigma for means-tested government programs’, Social Science & Medicine, 63, 933–945.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor-Gooby, P. (1976), ‘Rent benefits and tenants’ attitudes: the Batley rent rebate and allowance study', Journal of Social Policy, 5: 1, 33–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor-Gooby, P. (2013), ‘Why Do People Stigmatise the Poor at a Time of Rapidly Increasing Inequality, and What Can Be Done About It?’, The Political Quarterly, 84: 1, 31–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Titmuss, R. (1968), Commitment to welfare, London: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Turn2us (2012), New research reveals lack of awareness of available welfare support and benefits changes amongst those on low incomes [press release]. London: Elizabeth Finn Care. http://www.turn2us.org.uk/about_us/media_centre/press_releases/bam_2012_2.aspx [accessed 13/8/2014]Google Scholar
Van Brakel, W.H. (2006), ‘Measuring health-related stigma—A literature review’, Psychology, Health & Medicine, 11: 3, 307–334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Oorschot, W. (2000), ‘Who should get what, and why? On deservingness criteria and the conditionality of solidarity among the public’, Policy & Politics, 28: 1, 33–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Oorschot, W. (2002), ‘Targeting welfare: on the functions and dysfunctions of means testing in social policy’, in Townsend, P. and Gordon, D. (eds.), World poverty: new policies to defeat an old enemy, Bristol: Policy Press.Google Scholar
Walker, R. (2005), Social security and welfare: concepts and comparisons, Milton Keynes: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Walker, R., Kyomuhendo, G.B., Chase, E., Choudhry, S., Gubrium, E.K., Jo, Y.N., Lødemel, I., Mathew, L., Mwiine, A., Pellissery, S. and Ming, Y. (2013), ‘Poverty in Global Perspective: Is Shame a Common Denominator?’, Journal of Social Policy, 42: 02, 215–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Who Benefits? (2013), Campaign launches to give voice to people supported by benefits [press release]. London: Who Benefits? on behalf of The Children's Society, Crisis, Gingerbread, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Mind. http://blog.whobenefits.org.uk/post/65117143114/launch-release [accessed 13/8/2014]Google Scholar
Williamson, J.B. (1974), ‘The Stigma of Public Dependency: A Comparison of Alternative Forms of Public Aid to the Poor’, Social Problems, 22: 2, 213–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar