ALLIANCE respond to poverty-related stigma inquiry
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 11th March 2022
The inquiry into poverty-related stigma is being undertaken by the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Poverty.
The ALLIANCE have submitted evidence to the Cross Party Group (CPG) on Poverty’s inquiry into poverty-related stigma, highlighting in particular the negative impact of stigma on provision of social security. The CPG on Poverty was launched late in 2021, and chose poverty-related stigma as the subject of its first inquiry beginning in January 2022 (this link will take you away from our website).
In the submission, the ALLIANCE note the existence of a “strivers versus skivers” narrative which stigmatises people receiving social security payments, which are essential for alleviating and eliminating poverty. This stigmatisation has both driven and been driven by ongoing cutbacks to social security, which have had a particular impact on disabled people through tightening of eligibility criteria and payments not keeping pace with increases in the cost of living. The work of the ALLIANCE’s Health and Social Care Academy, Self Management Team and Scotland Reducing Gambling Harms programmes through the “Reducing Stigma, Emphasising Humanity” series was also highlighted.
Although poverty-related stigma is widespread, we welcome recent attitudinal changes in Scotland, as the Scottish Government have recognised social security as a human right, and sought to embed human rights and dignity in the rapidly developing devolved social security system. Our submission further calls for consistent signposting of social security and support services through all available points of contact, to make people aware of their entitlements rather than rely on them seeking out help proactively, which they may be reluctant to do due to stigma.
You can read the full submission in the links below.
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