Abstract

This article examines the nature of social citizenship for social security claimants in the UK and Australia, focusing on claimants suspected or convicted of minor social security fraud. It argues that claimants are excluded from social citizenship and that social security fraud legislation reinforces this exclusion. It proposes that social citizenship be redefined to more closely mirror T. H. Marshall’s vision of social citizenship, and suggests a new policy framework within which minor social security fraud could be decriminalized.