Introduction

Abstract

The meaning of the term ‘welfare rights’ can be debated at length and to varying degrees of philosophical abstraction. I should like to begin by setting out briefly its meaning as it is used in this book, and I shall aim to be straightforward. First, as regards subject matter, I have adopted what is probably the most common usage of the term, meaning rights to income, with particular reference to social security and other cash welfare benefits, and to directly related issues such as fuel disconnections. That is, I have not sought to embrace the whole range of welfare law, which would have included, for example, housing and health. Certainly, there will be overlap with these fields (housing benefits; exemption from NHS charges) but we are concerned here primarily with the income rights approach.