Gender Differences Among New Claimants of Incapacity Benefit

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender Differences Among New Claimants of Incapacity Benefit

AU - Kemp, Peter A.

AU - Davidson, Jacqueline

PY - 2009/10

Y1 - 2009/10

N2 - The academic literature on incapacity benefits in Britain is dominated by debates about 'hidden unemployment', particularly in relation to working-age men in the industrial and former coalmining areas. Although women account for two-fifths of all claimants, they have been given relatively little attention in the literature on incapacity benefits. This article draws on a representative survey of recent claimants of Incapacity Benefit (IB) in Britain to compare the situation of men and women aged under 60. it shows that there are significant differences in their characteristics and circumstances and in their routes onto this benefit. It is concluded that academic debates in Britain need to take into account the differences between women and men in order to reach a more complete understanding of the role of IB in the post-industrial economy.

AB - The academic literature on incapacity benefits in Britain is dominated by debates about 'hidden unemployment', particularly in relation to working-age men in the industrial and former coalmining areas. Although women account for two-fifths of all claimants, they have been given relatively little attention in the literature on incapacity benefits. This article draws on a representative survey of recent claimants of Incapacity Benefit (IB) in Britain to compare the situation of men and women aged under 60. it shows that there are significant differences in their characteristics and circumstances and in their routes onto this benefit. It is concluded that academic debates in Britain need to take into account the differences between women and men in order to reach a more complete understanding of the role of IB in the post-industrial economy.

KW - UNEMPLOYMENT

KW - EMPLOYMENT

KW - SICKNESS

KW - BRITAIN

KW - REGIONS

KW - WOMEN

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76449104813&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0047279409003353

DO - 10.1017/S0047279409003353

M3 - Article

SN - 0047-2794

VL - 38

SP - 589

EP - 606

JO - Journal of Social Policy

JF - Journal of Social Policy

IS - 4

ER -