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Analyzing the Justification Behind Disability Benefit Reforms in the UK

This report, authored by Libby McEnhill and Vicky Byrne from the Institute for Research in Citizenship and Applied Human Sciences, explores the significant changes introduced by the Welfare Reform Act of 2012. The paper examines the media's role in shaping public perception of disability benefits, contrasting the approaches of New Labour and the Coalition government. It critiques the prevalent models of disability and assesses how reform messaging aimed to promote employment over welfare dependency. The analysis highlights the socio-economic implications for disabled individuals and the moral arguments surrounding welfare expenditures.

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Analyzing the Justification Behind Disability Benefit Reforms in the UK

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  1. ‘Beat the Cheat’:Justifying Disability Benefit Reforms Libby McEnhill and Vicky Byrne Institute for Research in Citizenship and Applied Human Sciences, University of Huddersfield

  2. Structure • The Welfare Reform Act (2012) and the media (2) The models of disability (3) New Labour and the Coalition (4) ‘Selling’ and justifying reform

  3. (1) The Welfare Reform Act (2012) and the media • The Welfare Reform Act contains ‘the biggest change[s] to the welfare system for over 60 years.’ (DWP 2012a) • ‘The Sun today calls on readers to help end the benefits frauds (sic) that cost the country a record £1.2 BILLION last year. We urge Brits to shop the cheats stealing from honest tax payers when the nation can least afford it.’ (The Sun, 29 Feb 2012)

  4. (2) The models of disability

  5. (3) New Labour and the Coalition • New Labour: ‘the focus is on the ability of the individual to labour, rather upon the ability of labour market institutions to facilitate the employment of him or her.’(Grover and Piggott, 2007) • ‘And crucially, we’re introducing proper, objective assessments, so that money goes to people who truly need it, with more for the severely disabled.’ (David Cameron, 2012)

  6. (4) ‘Selling’ and justifying reform (1)

  7. ‘Selling’ and justifying reform (2) • ‘Compassion isn’t measured out in benefit cheques – it’s in the chances you give people…the chance to get a job, to get on, to get that sense of achievement that only comes from doing a hard day’s work for a proper day’s pay.’ (David Cameron, 25 June 2012) • ‘We must ensure young disabled people are getting the right messages about what they are capable of from a young age. And for many disabled people, the short answer to that is whatever they put their minds to.’ (Maria Miller, 20 October 2011)

  8. References • Cameron, D. 2012. Welfare Speech [online]. [Accessed 1 August 2012]. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk • Department for Work and Pensions. 2012. Welfare Reform [online]. [Accessed 11 June 2012]. Available from: http://www.dwp.gov.uk • Grover, L. and Piggott, C. 2007. Social Security, employment and the incapacity benefit: Critical reflections on A New Deal for Welfare, Disability and Society, 22, 7, pp. 707 – 719 • Miller, Maria. 2011. Equality for Disabled People [online]. [Accessed 18 August 2012]. Available from: http://www.dwp.gov.uk • Newton-Dunn, T. 2012. ‘Blitz the 1.2billion fiddlers’. The Sun [online]. 29 February [Accessed 11 June 2012]. Available from: http://www.thesun.co.uk • Shakespeare, T. 2006. Disability Rights and Wrongs London: Routledge Libby McEnhill: U1173752@hud.ac.uk Vicky Byrne: U0570043@hud.ac.uk

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