Government’s Income Support Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Income support policy was already a contentious issue before the arrival of Covid-19, but it has assumed increased significance as a result of the job losses and disruption to people’s earnings following the border closures, trade disruption and the period of nationwide lockdown. This article documents the government’s income support and social welfare responses to the pandemic and places them in the context of the pre-existing debates around welfare policy. The article finishes with a brief discussion of possible future directions for the welfare state.