Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice(Understanding Welfare: Social Issues, Policy and Practice Series)

Reform of social security and tax is at the heart of the UK government's vision to combat social exclusion, eradicate child poverty and move people into employment. Since 1997 there have been major changes in policy and administration, directly affecting the lives of millions of people and raising important issues of equity and social justice. This introductory text provides students across a range of disciplines with an up to date critical analysis of these changes and their impact. It covers both social security policy and practice and addresses key issues such as: tax credits; welfare-to-work; cash and care; fraud; asylum seekers and ethnic minorities; disability; the pledge to end child poverty; and pensions. It also analyses the impact of supra-national bodies, family change, information technology and organisational change.

Table of Contents:
Setting the scene Jane Millar. Part One Changing contexts - From the cradle to the grave: social security over the life cycle Karen Rowlingson; The new governance of social security in Britain Theodoros Papadopoulous and Emma Carmel; Social security in global context Nicola Yeates. Part Two Changing goals: From welfare to workfare Alex Bryson; "Security for those who cannot" - New Labour's neglected welfare principle Saul Becker; From wage replacement to wage supplement - benefits and tax credits Jane Millar; Disability, capability and social exclusion Tania Burchardt; Benefiting children? The challenge of social security support for children Tess Ridge; Reforming pensions - investing in the future Stephen McKay. Part Three Changing delivery: Service delivery and the user Bruce Stafford; The street level implementation of unemployment policy Sharon Wright; Social security in a multi-ethnic society Lucinda Platt; Understanding social security fraud Roy Sainsbury; Wired-up welfare - the impact of technology on social security Karen Kellard.

About the Author :
Jane Millar is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Bath and Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy. She has extensive research experience in social security. She has also been Director of the Department for Work and Pension's annual Summer School for many years.

Review :
"This first-class text provides students with the most up-to-date review and analysis of social security issues. It will fast become the definitive guide to the subject." Professor Jonathan Bradshaw, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York