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Universal Credit: Welfare Reform and Mental Health

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  • Brewer, Mike

    (London School of Economics)

  • Dang, Thang

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Tominey, Emma

    (University of York)

Abstract

The UK Universal Credit (UC) welfare reform simplified the benefits system whilst strongly incentivising a return to sustainable employment. Exploiting a staggered roll-out, we estimate the differential effect of entering unemployment under UC versus the former system on mental health. Groups with fewer insurance possibilities - single adults and lone parents – experience a mental health deterioration of 8.4-13.9% sd. For couples, UC partially or fully mitigates mental health consequences of unemployment. Exploring mechanisms, for single adults and lone parents, reduced benefit income and strict job search requirements dominate any positive welfare effects of the reduced administrative burden of claiming benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Brewer, Mike & Dang, Thang & Tominey, Emma, 2022. "Universal Credit: Welfare Reform and Mental Health," IZA Discussion Papers 15178, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15178
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    universal credit; decomposition; mediation; mental health; welfare reform;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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