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Universal Credit, deductions and ‘sexually transmitted’ debt

Griffiths, Rita, Cain, Ruth (2022) Universal Credit, deductions and ‘sexually transmitted’ debt. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 44 (4). pp. 431-454. ISSN 1469-9621. (doi:10.1080/09649069.2022.2136712) (KAR id:99945)

Abstract

Intended to simplify benefits and encourage paid employment, Universal Credit is the UK’s main working-age benefit. Assessed and paid monthly in arrears to low-income individuals and couples with and without earnings, the single monthly payment is based on entitlement, less a proportion deducted for any household earnings and/or debts. Research has highlighted the financial hardship that deductions for debts can cause for claimants. Less attention has been paid to the experiences of couples who have joint liability for repaying debts that one or both of the partners may have accrued, including those which may pre-date the start of their current partnership. Drawing on new empirical research findings, we explore the effects of deductions in the context of a joint Universal Credit claim, and on the different partners. The paper argues that greater stringency, data sharing and automation in the capture and recovery of debts, compared with the legacy system, have reduced the scope for flexibility and discretion in the way debts are collected and deductions are administered. This is creating additional financial hardship and potential relationship instability for couples for whom adverse financial and emotional effects can be multiplied. Options for reform are discussed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/09649069.2022.2136712
Projects: Couples balancing work, money and care: exploring the shifting landscape under Universal Credit
Additional information: For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Uncontrolled keywords: Universal credit, deductions, personal debt, partner inherited debt, sexually transmitted debt, social security
Subjects: H Social Sciences
K Law > K Law (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (https://ror.org/03n0ht308)
University of Bath (https://ror.org/002h8g185)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2023 09:39 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 19:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/99945 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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