Claimants fear benefits ‘shame’

Research for a group of charities revealed that 81 per cent of the respondents believe that benefits are an important safety net to support people when they need help, with 64 per cent, agreeing that benefits paid to those in need are good for wider society.

But more than a quarter, or 27 per cent, of those on benefits keep this secret, according to the findings, rising to 47 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds who have been supported by benefits.

More than half, or 51 per cent, of all those who had never been supported by benefits also said they would feel embarrassed to claim.

The online research into the views of 1,955 adults conducted last month was released to coincide with the start of a campaign by charities and community groups to counter negative views benefit claimants.

The campaign, led by the Children’s Society, Crisis, Gingerbread, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mind, has backing from 75 charities, faith groups and community groups.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, led Church of England bishops earlier this year in attacking ‘’rhetoric’’ that accused people of choosing a life of idle dependence on the welfare state.

He said it was an “insult” to claim that poverty was caused by people choosing unemployment as six out of 10 families in poverty have at least one adult in work.