Final published version
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the mental health impacts of Universal Credit
T2 - Protocol for a mixed methods study
AU - Craig, Peter
AU - Barr, Benjamin
AU - Baxter, Andrew J.
AU - Brown, Heather
AU - Cheetham, Mandy
AU - Gibson, Marcia
AU - Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal
AU - Moffatt, Suzanne
AU - Morris, Steph
AU - Munford, Luke Aaron
AU - Richiardi, Matteo
AU - Sutton, Matt
AU - Taylor-Robinson, David
AU - Wickham, Sophie
AU - Xiang, Huasheng
AU - Bambra, Clare
PY - 2022/4/8
Y1 - 2022/4/8
N2 - Introduction The UK social security system is being transformed by the implementation of Universal Credit (UC), which combines six existing benefits and tax credits into a single payment for low-income households. Despite extensive reports of hardship associated with the introduction of UC, no previous studies have comprehensively evaluated its impact on mental health. Because payments are targeted at low-income households, impacts on mental health will have important consequences for health inequalities. Methods and analysis We will conduct a mixed methods study. Work package (WP) 1 will compare health outcomes for new recipients of UC with outcomes for legacy benefit recipients in two large population surveys, using the phased rollout of UC as a natural experiment. We will also analyse the relationship between the proportion of UC claimants in small areas and a composite measure of mental health. WP2 will use data collected by Citizen's Advice to explore the sociodemographic and health characteristics of people who seek advice when claiming UC and identify features of the claim process that prompt advice-seeking. WP3 will conduct longitudinal in-depth interviews with up to 80 UC claimants in England and Scotland to explore reasons for claiming and experiences of the claim process. Up to 30 staff supporting claimants will also be interviewed. WP4 will use a dynamic microsimulation model to simulate the long-term health impacts of different implementation scenarios. WP5 will undertake cost-consequence analysis of the potential costs and outcomes of introducing UC and cost-benefit analyses of mitigating actions. Ethics and dissemination We obtained ethical approval for the primary data gathering from the University of Glasgow, College of Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, application number 400200244. We will use our networks to actively disseminate findings to UC claimants, the public, practitioners and policy-makers, using a range of methods and formats. Trial registration number The study is registered with the Research Registry: researchregistry6697.
AB - Introduction The UK social security system is being transformed by the implementation of Universal Credit (UC), which combines six existing benefits and tax credits into a single payment for low-income households. Despite extensive reports of hardship associated with the introduction of UC, no previous studies have comprehensively evaluated its impact on mental health. Because payments are targeted at low-income households, impacts on mental health will have important consequences for health inequalities. Methods and analysis We will conduct a mixed methods study. Work package (WP) 1 will compare health outcomes for new recipients of UC with outcomes for legacy benefit recipients in two large population surveys, using the phased rollout of UC as a natural experiment. We will also analyse the relationship between the proportion of UC claimants in small areas and a composite measure of mental health. WP2 will use data collected by Citizen's Advice to explore the sociodemographic and health characteristics of people who seek advice when claiming UC and identify features of the claim process that prompt advice-seeking. WP3 will conduct longitudinal in-depth interviews with up to 80 UC claimants in England and Scotland to explore reasons for claiming and experiences of the claim process. Up to 30 staff supporting claimants will also be interviewed. WP4 will use a dynamic microsimulation model to simulate the long-term health impacts of different implementation scenarios. WP5 will undertake cost-consequence analysis of the potential costs and outcomes of introducing UC and cost-benefit analyses of mitigating actions. Ethics and dissemination We obtained ethical approval for the primary data gathering from the University of Glasgow, College of Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, application number 400200244. We will use our networks to actively disseminate findings to UC claimants, the public, practitioners and policy-makers, using a range of methods and formats. Trial registration number The study is registered with the Research Registry: researchregistry6697.
KW - HEALTH ECONOMICS
KW - MENTAL HEALTH
KW - PUBLIC HEALTH
KW - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061340
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061340
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35396318
AN - SCOPUS:85127852691
VL - 12
SP - e061340
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
SN - 2044-6055
IS - 4
M1 - e061340
ER -