The Right to Social Security in the UK - An Explainer

Abstract

This briefing document has been prepared for the Nuffield Foundation project on ‘Access to Justice for Social Rights: Addressing the Accountability Gap’, led by Dr Katie Boyle. It forms the second part of four briefings that explore and explain the international legal obligation to provide the rights to food, housing, and social security. This briefing provides an overview of the right to social security in the UK, with further information directly relating to its three devolved nations. Social security, through its redistributive character, plays an important role in poverty reduction and alleviation, prevents social exclusion, and promotes social inclusion. It is a key component of international human rights law generally, but in particular, for economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights. ESC rights cover rights relating housing, employment, heath care, education, and an adequate standard of living. They more broadly protect marginalised and vulnerable groups such as those living in poverty, women, disabled persons, children, the elderly, migrants and so on. ESC rights are also often overlooked in the UK’s legal systems and so require further exploration to ensure they are properly accounted for and implemented into domestic law.