Over the last 15 years we have seen a great deal of changes in the UK benefit system and consecutive governments have pushed for and continue to push for changes to our benefits system.
There is a perception that the benefit system is 'broken' and that Welfare Reform is about reducing the number of people claiming benefits long-term such as Jobseekers Allowance, and that too many people are not working because of illness and disability. Increasingly since 1997 the media have used the term like 'workshy'; 'lazy'; and 'benefit fraud' to stigmatize people claiming benefit.
However the UK benefit system is much more complicated than this. Welfare Reform is complex; the realities of our welfare system don't just affect people out of work; sick and disabled people, single parents, young are not generally 'workshy' or 'lazy and the evidence of 'benefit fraud' do not show masses of people stealing tax payers money.
The Government have said that they are committed to overhauling the benefit system to promote work and personal responsibility. However Welfare Reform cannot ignore our social responsibilities as a modern, caring society.
Our benefit system needs to be affordable, supportive and fairer. It needs to be better able to tackle poverty and unemployment, but at the same time offer security to people both in and out of work; whether they are families, carers; young people; or living with illness and disability.
Workfare
Recently there has been a great deal of coverage about 'workfare'. What is it? What is all the fuss about? Click here to find out more.
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