9 - Rethinking Welfare

Summary

The chapter examines the changes to the welfare state needed in the post-pandemic world, arguing that, despite its current popularity, a Universal Basic Income is not the right way forward. It will expose the risks of this as a panacea for economic and social ills and argue that we need to focus instead both on devising a fit-for-purpose safety net and restoring high-quality universal public services.

It will look at the loss of dignity and security that has resulted from the inadequate payments and deliberate administrative delays of the current Universal Credit regime and at how this has accentuated child poverty and in particular child food poverty during the pandemic. It will debunk claims that the £20 rise in Universal Credit is a ‘generous’ response and argue for a minimum income commission to advise on the future calculation as the Low Pay Commission does for the minimum wage.

It will conclude by putting the case for renewed investment in education and training, health, housing and digital access and argue that care – both childcare and care of the elderly – must now be integrated into our welfare state, reversing the historic ‘male breadwinner’ model of welfare support.