ABSTRACT

This article critically evaluates and contests the flagship benefit delivery system Universal Credit for lone mothers by focusing on some of the ethical challenges it poses, as well as some key implications it holds for social work with lone mothers and their children. Universal Credit was first introduced in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2008, and echoes conditionality-based welfare policies adopted by neoliberal governments internationally on the assumption that paid employment offers a route out of poverty for citizens. However, research evidence suggests that the risks of conditionality polices for lone parents can often include increased poverty, a deterioration in mental health or even destitution posed by paternalistic sanctions or precarious low-paid employment, which can undermine parenting capacities and children’s well-being. The article also critically appraises and questions challenges posed by an increased reliance upon contractual ethics by governments, alongside the wider behaviour-modifying policies of the workfare-orientated state. This includes that working-class lone mothers can erroneously be stigmatised as representing a morally challenged dependent burden through activation policies and risk-averse social work practices.

摘要

本文通过关注其带来的一些道德挑战，以及它对单身母亲及其子女的社会工作的一些关键影响，批判性地评估和质疑单身母亲的旗舰福利交付系统 Universal Credit。Universal Credit 于 2008 年首次在英国 (UK) 推出，与国际上新自由主义政府采用的基于条件的福利政策相呼应，假设有偿就业为公民提供了摆脱贫困的途径。然而，研究证据表明，对单亲父母实施条件性政策的风险通常包括贫困加剧、心理健康恶化，甚至由家长式制裁或不稳定的低收入就业造成的贫困，这可能会损害养育子女的能力和儿童的福祉。本文还批判性地评估和质疑政府越来越依赖合同伦理所带来的挑战，以及以工作为导向的国家更广泛的行为改变政策。这包括通过激活政策和规避风险的社会工作实践，工薪阶层的单身母亲可能被错误地污蔑为代表道德上受到挑战的依赖负担。