Britain's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) population endures fear, stigma and exclusion when trying to claim social security benefits, according to a new study from social scientists.
Analysis of almost a decade of data from over 10,000 UK households, and more than 100 interviews with people who had claimed benefits, found that fear of discrimination means LGBT+ people can delay claiming benefits, and that they can still face barriers to employment due to discrimination. It found that administrative systems based on heterosexual and cisgender norms can be a barrier and add to their anxiety.
The study – led by social scientists from the University of Stirling, with colleagues from the University of Nottingham and Sheffield Hallam University – highlights a "punitive, highly conditional" social security system, in which claims are delayed or made complex and difficult because of a claimant's sexual and/or gender identity.
"The new government is currently looking at reforms to welfare support. Our research shows that efforts to facilitate returns to employment need to be sensitive towards people's sexuality and gender identity. Indirect discrimination is a significant barrier to LGBT+ people access welfare and the support they need."
"The project provides a series of recommendations that will reduce barriers and stigma experienced by LGBT+ claimants and can provide useful insights for the Get Britain Working white paper. This project is a significant contribution to growing research at UoN which explores the challenges still faced by LGBT+ people in the UK and beyond and our ambition to provide high quality research that can create a more equal and inclusive society."
The findings which analysed data collected across three major surveys in Great Britain – the Family Resources Survey, the Wealth and Assets Survey, and the UK Household Longitudinal Survey (UKHLS, known as Understanding Society), come as the Government gets ready to undertake an overhaul of employment. Its Get Britain Working White Paper was published last week.
The research found that while universal, non-conditional benefits such as the State Pension are straightforward for LGBT+ people to claim and manage, accessing other social security benefits was much more difficult. Claimants faced a system that discriminated against them, with poor interaction with staff and intimidating processes and surroundings.
The study recommends that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and other social security agencies and organisations make sure staff attend LGBT+ inclusion training, and that agencies gather, analyse and publish appropriate data on sexual and gender identities as part of ongoing equalities monitoring.
The authors suggest that name changes for trans claimants are treated in the same way as name changes for married women, and that all social security systems should allow people to choose a non-binary gender.
The research also highlighted positive experiences for LGBT+ people. This included work coaches in JobCentre Plus treating LGBT+ claimants with respect, and ensuring their privacy when appropriate, and inclusive disability charities helping disabled LGBT+ claimants with social security benefits. Applying for disability benefits in Scotland – which has devolved powers for this – was regarded by participants as a more positive experience than in England and Wales.
Peter Matthews, co-author of the study and Professor of Social Policy and LGBTQ+ Studies at the University of Stirling, said: "Our study reveals some distressing findings – a social security system with inequalities and stigma towards Britain's LGBT+ community and claimants who are worn down by that. We spoke to people intimidated and put off not only by the bureaucracy of the system, but by the surroundings, staff and lack of privacy in job centres. We found people operating with two identities – a 'legal' self who claims the benefits and another self who assumes their preferred sexual or gender identity. There were people who lied about their relationship status or hid them from the DWP to avoid intrusion and complexity.
"It is wrong that anyone feels shame, or is forced to lie, in order to access the social security benefits to which they entitled. What is needed, and urgently, is a move away from a system that is punitive and exclusionary to one that is supportive, inclusive and individualised."
Analysis from the same study revealed earlier this year that Britain's lesbian, gay and bisexual population experiences inequalities in accessing housing. The research was carried out by the University of Stirling in partnership with the University of Nottingham and Sheffield Hallam University.
The final report of LGBT+ Welfare and Assets in Great Britain is available online at https://lgbtqwelfare.stir.ac.uk/
