ABSTRACT
The chapter examines attitudes toward welfare non-take-up, focusing on four situations: not taking up disability benefits, not taking up welfare benefits despite a difficult life situation, not registering as unemployed despite willingness to work, and not using sick leave despite a serious illness. Although non-take-up can generate negative long-term effects for individuals and their relatives, most respondents justify it. Between 74% and 85% of them accept non-take-up in the first three cases, while acceptance is the lowest for not using sick leave. Justification is mainly linked to presumed unwillingness to be dependent on state assistance, fear of shame or humiliation, and the complexity of procedures. Acceptance may also relate to social norms: taking up benefits sometimes is viewed as a weakness. Lack of justification is associated with perceived harmfulness of welfare non-take-up to the individual and others, and ethical concerns. Attitudes vary by financial situation and state of health: the worse the respondent’s condition, the lower the acceptance. Young people are more likely to justify attending work while ill. Ultimately, the vast majority of respondents identify with those who, as far as possible, do not take up welfare benefits, which may reflect a desire for independence and control over one’s own situation.
