The ‘right to welfare’ in a new age of destitution

Description

TH Marshall’s conception of social citizenship is closely linked with the replacement of a patchy, unreliable, discretionary and highly stigmatised range of services for the relief of poverty with a comprehensive welfare state between 1911 and 1948. As social security reforms, driven by austerity and a negative construction of claimants, turn the focus back on local government and the voluntary sector for the support of the ‘undeserving’ migrant and unemployed poor, this paper asks what has become of Marshall’s ‘right to welfare’ in the 21st century. Drawing findings from an ongoing study of destitution in the UK, it examines the experiences of those for whom – due to gaps in the safety net or the exercise of decision maker discretion – the fulfilment of social ‘rights’ is once again becoming dependent on knowing where to seek support, having access to the right gatekeeper and enduring social stigma.

Period	9 Mar 2018
Event title	Economic and Social Rights Academic Network UK and Ireland (ESRAN-UKI) March 2018
Event type	Conference
Location	London, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	National