Benefits stigma in Britain

Abstract

This report set out to investigate the stigma attached to claiming benefits in Britain today, using an original MORI survey conducted in May 2012, focus groups with claimants and non-claimants, re-analysis of existing survey data, and an analysis of articles about benefits in national newspapers from 1995 to 2011. We use ‘stigma’ throughout this report as a term to describe the idea that a characteristic – in this case claiming benefits – is seen to be embarrassing or shameful and to lead to a lower social status. We argue that benefits are primarily stigmatised when they are seen as an undeserved and unreciprocated gift.