New research on health inequalities, welfare reform and economic change in Scotland
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 21st August 2024.
Public Health Scotland have published new analysis of the role of post-2010 welfare reforms on health and its determinants in Scotland.
It builds on three previous reports (links below), published over the last decade, monitoring the impacts on health and health inequalities of the economic downturn and changes to the social security system.
The report highlights how many economic factors and health indicators stalled or started worsening in the post-recession austerity period around 2010, noting that there was a steady erosion in the value of benefits paid to working-age families between 2013 and 2023, concentrated between 2016 and 2020.
In Scotland, health outcomes deteriorated in this period. "Many of the negative changes in income and health observed occurred between 2015 and 2019, a period in which Welfare Reforms (notably the benefit freeze and Universal Credit) affected many people in Scotland."
The report also notes that gains in employment have not led to led to reductions in poverty and hardship, with many low-income working households relying on social security to provide sufficient income to live and maintain their health and wellbeing.
While the report notes that the data in this report cannot directly link cause and effect, further research is currently being undertaken by PHS that could offer further insights and conclusions.
Improving Lives? (2024)
Working and hurting? (2018)
Pulling in different directions? (2016)
Making a bad situation worse? (2013)
What you need to know this week.
The SCDC Weekly gives you everything you need to know around community development and beyond.
It’s free, concise and delivered directly to your inbox every Wednesday.