Offers a critical analysis of benefit sanctions in the UK, situated within a broader context, and including a balanced look at the evidence for and against
Argues that their effectiveness is unproven, they cause unnecessary hardship, they are inconsistent with justice and they violate the rule of law
Uses benefit sanctions to throw light on issues like proportionality and the problems of punishment when it is imposed by administrators in bureaucratic settings rather than by the judiciary in the courts
Offers a critical analysis of benefit sanctions in the UK, situated within a broader context, and including a balanced look at the evidence for and against Argues that their effectiveness is unproven, they cause unnecessary hardship, they are inconsistent with justice and they violate the rule of law Uses benefit sanctions to throw light on issues like proportionality and the problems of punishment when it is imposed by administrators in bureaucratic settings rather than by the judiciary in the courts
Michael Adler
social security benefits welfare welfare state socio-legal social rights austerity human rights punishment courts
“The book is highly readable and engaging … . this is not only an informative book, but one written with (perhaps Quixotic) passion and fervour that are not common enough in academic literature. It seeks not only to educate and inform, but to contribute towards making the world (of benefit sanctions in the UK, at least) a fairer place, and for that it should be commended.” (Amir Paz-Fuchs, Journal of Social Policy, Vol. 48 (4), October, 2019)
“The book is rigorously empirical in its approach. … The distinctive contribution of Adler’s book is the assessment of the sanctions regime in the light of the literature on administrative justice, the rule of law and human rights.” (David Webster, Local Economy, Vol. 34 (3), 2019)