Table of Contents
List of tables and figures v
About the author vi
1 Understanding social security 1
Why pay benefits? 2
What circumstances are the benefits paid for? 4
Different types of benefit 7
2 Misunderstanding social security 13
Spending 14
The growth of dependency 17
Disincentives to work 21
Families where generations have never worked 23
Benefits for migrants 25
Fraud and abuse 27
3 The real problems 31
The size of the operation 31
The human factor 33
Presumptuous administration 35
Conditionally 38
Complexity 41
Correcting mistakes 45
Selectivity 47
Means testing 53
4 How much is enough? 57
Cash and the private market 57
Income packages 59
How much should benefits be? 60
Changing benefit incomes 64
Providing a basic income 66
5 Reforming key benefits 71
Benefits for older people 72
Benefits for disability 76
Family benefits 80
Out of work 83
Benefits for housing 94
6 Changing the benefits system 97
Universal Basic Income 100
Some other ideas for reform 106
How to change the system of benefits: a manifesto for change 109
Index 115
