This report set out to investigate the stigma attached to claiming benefits in Britain today,
using an original MORI survey conducted in May 2012, focus groups with claimants and
non-claimants, re-analysis of existing survey data, and an analysis of articles about benefits
in national newspapers from 1995 to 2011. We use ‘stigma’ throughout this report as a term
to describe the idea that a characteristic – in this case claiming benefits – is seen to be
embarrassing or shameful and to lead to a lower social status. We argue that benefits are
primarily stigmatised when they are seen as an undeserved and unreciprocated gift