Research shows coronavirus benefit claimants are more likely to be younger, middle class, or more likely to be BAME

The latest findings from our research show that people who have started benefit claims since the pandemic are more likely to be:

• younger: almost half (46%) of new benefit claimants are aged between 18-39 years old, compared to 37% of existing claimants.
• BAME: 8% of new claimants are from BAME backgrounds compared to 6% of existing claimants.
• men: 49% of new benefit claimants are male compared to 43% of existing benefit claimants.
• not experiencing a disability: only 38% of new benefit claimants have a health condition or disability, compared to 67% of existing claimants. 
• from a higher ‘social grade’: ‘social grade’ is a classification system commonly used in market research, which looks at employment status and the sort of jobs people do. More than a quarter (26%) of new claimants are from social grade AB (managerial, administrative and professional occupations) compared to 15% of existing claimants.
• university graduates: almost a third (32%) of new claimants had a university diploma or above, compared to 26% of existing claimants.
• homeowners: 29% of new benefit claimants were owner occupiers compared to 25% of existing claimants. In addition, only 13% of new claimants were social renters compared to 33% of existing claimants.

The report comes from the Welfare at a (Social) Distance project; a major national research project investigating the benefits system during Covid-19 and its aftermath. The project is led by the Sustainable Housing & Urban Studies Unit (SHUSU) at the University of Salford, working in collaboration with the University of Kent, the University of Leeds, the LSE and Deakin University, Australia.

This study draws on survey data collected online from 7,601 new and existing claimants by YouGov between 21st May and 15th June 2020.

Dr Daniel Edmiston, who led the report stated:

‘Examining our survey data alongside administrative records, we have been able to establish whether there is something genuinely distinctive about the new COVID-19 cohort of benefit claimants. Where administrative records are not publicly available, our survey data provides a unique opportunity to evidence changes in the demographic profile of benefit claimants. Our findings underline the need for social assistance and employment support that is better tailored to this diverse new cohort of benefit claimants.’

Professor Lisa Scullion, who leads the project, said:

‘We’re delighted that this project is already meeting our aim of providing rapid large-scale evidence for policy makers on the challenges facing our welfare benefits system. It is vital that we understand how people are managing to navigate the benefits system, and what support they may need in order to do so.

‘Understanding who is claiming benefits is key to this. We do not know whether the current cohort of benefit claimants will be the same as forthcoming waves of claimants as the full effects of COVID-19 are felt: the reasons motivating new claims will be subject to the distinctive phases of economic crisis surrounding the pandemic. However, these phases can and should be anticipated to ensure support services are in place for the increased and changed demand on the benefits system that is likely on the horizon.’

The Welfare at a (Social) Distance project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19. Over the course of the project, researchers will be publishing regular reports, blogs, and briefings about different aspects of the benefits system.

For more information on the project, to sign up for updates, or to share your ideas or personal experiences please visit http://hub.salford.ac.uk/welfare-at-a-social-distance/