Publications

Books

Second Class Citizens was published by the Centre for Welfare Reform in September 2019.

Second Class Citizens brilliantly weaves together:

  • The development of the welfare state and the efforts of disabled people to get recognition and support for their right to be included as equal citizens
  • The growing attack on the welfare state and the lies and rhetoric that have been used to justify cuts to services and basic income security
  • The life experiences of sick and disabled people and the real life impact of austerity and so-called ‘welfare reforms’
  • An overview of all the different policies and services that impact on sick and disabled people and others that have been targeted by Government cuts
  • The economic flaws that underpin austerity and how modern economic thinking provides a better basis for developing a sustainable welfare state

Academic journals

Predicting policy performance: can the Work and Health Programme work for chronically ill or disabled people? 2018

Many developed countries consider that disability benefit receipt is too high and more disabled people should be in paid work. Employment programmes designed to achieve this have tended towards less financial support and more requirement to engage in activity. But emphasis on social inclusion through paid work coupled with inadequate benefits and mandated activity can cause distress and worsened health. It is therefore vital that politicians understand the likely impact of employment programmes before introducing them. In this article, a new framework based on five ‘Ds’ (diagnosis, destination, development, design and delivery) is used to analyse the UK’s Work and Health Programme. It is shown that the programme is likely to fail: it includes measures that do not work, and may cause harm, whilst ignoring measures that are known to work. Based on this, it is recommended that this programme be scrapped and the government start listening to disabled people.

ESA

Benstead, S., 2017. Replacing ESA: Part Three – a new sickness benefit. Ekklesia

Richardson, C. and Benstead, S., 2017. Smokescreen: a Spartacus Network report in response to Improving lives: work, health and disability Green Paper. Spartacus Network.

Benstead, S. and Nock, E., 2016. Replacing ESA: Part Two – consultation on a new system. Ekklesia.

Benstead, S. and Nock, E., 2016. Replacing ESA: Part One – support needs of people with chronic illness. Ekklesia.

Benstead, S., Marsh, S., Richardson, C., Cartwright, J., Hale, C., Barnet-Cormack, S. and Smith, R.. Beyond the barriers: a Spartacus Network report on ESA, the Work Programme and recommendations for a new system of support. Spartacus Network.

Benstead, S. Welfare that works: Employment and Support Allowance. Spartacus Network.

 

PIP

Richardson, C., Nock, E. and Benstead, S., 2016. Crippling choices: a Spartacus Network response to the 2015 DWP consultation on the use of aids and appliances in PIP. Spartacus Network.

Spartacus Network. Consultation on the PIP Moving around criteria: briefing by sick & disabled people.