TY - JOUR
T1 - ‘You can see when your parents are struggling’: a qualitative study of children and young people’s views of Universal Credit
AU - Cheetham, Mandy
AU - El-Zerbi, Catherine
AU - Bidmead, Elaine
AU - Morris, Stephanie
AU - Dodd, Tabitha
PY - 2024/12/26
Y1 - 2024/12/26
N2 - By 2025, over eight million UK households will be receiving Universal Credit (UC). Introduced in 2013 to simplify the benefit system and improve work incentives for working age adults, UC has been criticised for causing hardship and exacerbating inequalities. There is limited research on children and young people's (CYP) views of UC, as well as its health and social impacts. In this pilot qualitative study, creative methods were used to understand the views of UC among CYP (n = 40) aged 12-16 years in North East England. Findings showed diverse and nuanced understanding of UC as well as contested views about conditionality, sanctions, lower UC rates for under-25s and the two-child limit alongside recognition of the stigma and shame associated with benefits. While CYP value paid employment, they stressed the importance of minimum income standards and tailored employment support for UC claimants, taking account of their personal, health and family circumstances. Findings suggest CYP are aware when parents and carers are struggling financially and may try to ease pressures on parents. Debates about principles of equality, fairness, social justice and deservingness were present in young people's accounts. We conclude by exploring future directions for a CYP-centred approach to social policy.
AB - By 2025, over eight million UK households will be receiving Universal Credit (UC). Introduced in 2013 to simplify the benefit system and improve work incentives for working age adults, UC has been criticised for causing hardship and exacerbating inequalities. There is limited research on children and young people's (CYP) views of UC, as well as its health and social impacts. In this pilot qualitative study, creative methods were used to understand the views of UC among CYP (n = 40) aged 12-16 years in North East England. Findings showed diverse and nuanced understanding of UC as well as contested views about conditionality, sanctions, lower UC rates for under-25s and the two-child limit alongside recognition of the stigma and shame associated with benefits. While CYP value paid employment, they stressed the importance of minimum income standards and tailored employment support for UC claimants, taking account of their personal, health and family circumstances. Findings suggest CYP are aware when parents and carers are struggling financially and may try to ease pressures on parents. Debates about principles of equality, fairness, social justice and deservingness were present in young people's accounts. We conclude by exploring future directions for a CYP-centred approach to social policy.
KW - Universal Credit
KW - children and young people
KW - poverty
KW - qualitative study
KW - rights
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85213850321&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0047279424000333
DO - 10.1017/S0047279424000333
M3 - Article
SN - 0047-2794
SP - 1
EP - 21
JO - Journal of Social Policy
JF - Journal of Social Policy
ER -