For Whose Benefit?

Dr Ruth Patrick is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Law and Social Justice at the University of Liverpool. She has written widely on welfare reform and social citizenship for both academic and mainstream media publications. She facilitated the Dole Animators project (see www.doleanimators.org @doleanimators). She tweets at @ruthpatrick0.

"[has a] deep understanding of the problems facing our social security system" Citizen's Income Trust "We hear plenty about benefit claimants but it's rare to hear from them. This important book starts with their perspective. It demonstrates - partly through their words - the damage social security reforms have done to people on low-incomes over time. Sadly there is more damage to come in the next few years when a range of further cuts and changes take effect or bite down harder. Anyone concerned that we should have a social security system that is fair - and that works for people rather than against them - will find the testimonies and the analysis here invaluable." Jane Ahrends, Child Poverty Action Group "Offers much needed analysis of the experiences of those at the sharp end of welfare reform in the UK. The human costs and negative consequences of an increasingly austere and conditional social security system are clearly set out and considered. This thought provoking book should be widely read by all." Peter Dwyer, University of York "A compelling, timely and important account of everyday life for those most affected by austerity policy. Essential reading." Jane Millar, University of Bath "The demoralising insecurity of claiming and being on benefits is starkly revealed in a penetrating analysis of people's own accounts over time." Adrian Sinfield, University of Edinburgh

• Foreword ~ Baroness Ruth Lister Introduction: Beyond Benefits Street - exploring experiences and narratives of welfare reform;Social citizenship from above; The emergence of a framing consensus on ‘welfare’;The everyday realities of out-of-work benefit receipt;Is welfare-to-work working? Relationships with work over time;Ending welfare dependency? Experiencing welfare reform;Scroungerphobia: living with the stigma of benefits;Diverse trajectories between 2011 and 2016 Conclusion: social insecurity and ‘welfare’