Public perception of social security distorted by ‘welfare’ politics

Interesting to see Tom Pollard’s blog on the New Economics Foundation website

Polls taken at the start of May 2024 show that people think support for the unemployed is twice as high as it actually is:

We asked people how much they thought the basic rate of benefits for people who are unemployed is (not including additional support for housing) as a percentage of a full-time salary on the national living wage (commonly referred to as the minimum wage). The average estimate was 48%. We also asked people what this percentage should be, and the average response was 53%. In reality, it is just 23%.

Noting there isn’t a huge variation in responses based on voting intention, Tom says that:

the gap between the public’s perceptions of benefit levels and the reality should give the next government pause for thought about how they both respond to and communicate the challenges those on the lowest incomes are facing. There is clearly scope to develop a new consensus about the minimum levels of support people should receive, in relation to a more meaningful benchmark than the arbitrary level of current rates.

My thoughts - The last NAWRA conference talked a bit about cross-sector work and public perception, so there may be appetite to do joined-up work to address the perception-reality gap on benefit levels. I’m guessing most forum members won’t be surprised by the above findings but it is heartening to see some statistical evidence nonetheless!