Universal credit, lone mothers and poverty: some ethical challenges for social work with children and families
Authors
Carey, MalcolmAffiliation
University of ChesterPublication Date
2021-06-22
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This article critically evaluates and contests the flagship benefit delivery system Universal Credit for lone mothers by focusing on some of the ethical challenges it poses, as well as some key implications it holds for social work with lone mothers and their children. Universal Credit was first introduced in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2008, and echoes conditionality-based welfare policies adopted by neoliberal governments internationally on the assumption that paid employment offers a route out of poverty for citizens. However, research evidence suggests that the risks of conditionality polices for lone parents can often include increased poverty, a deterioration in mental health or even destitution posed by paternalistic sanctions or precarious low-paid employment, which can undermine parenting capacities and children’s well-being. The article also critically appraises and questions challenges posed by an increased reliance upon contractual ethics by governments, alongside the wider behaviour modifying policies of the workfare-orientated state. This includes that working-class lone mothers can erroneously be stigmatised as representing a morally challenged dependent burden through activation policies and risk-averse social work practices.Citation
Carey, M., & Bell, S. (2021). Universal credit, lone mothers and poverty: Some ethical challenges for social work with children and families. Ethics and Social Welfare, 16(1), 3-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2021.1939756Publisher
Taylor & FrancisJournal
Ethics and Social WelfareType
ArticleDescription
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ethics and Social Welfare on 22/06/2021, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2021.1939756Series/Report no.
n/aISSN
1749-6535EISSN
1749-6543ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/17496535.2021.1939756
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