The Concepts of Deservingness and Mobility in Access to Social Assistance: A Qualitative Study on the Cash for Care Scheme in Turkey

Abstract

This article explores the concepts of deservingness and mobility by focusing on the cash for care as a social assistance scheme. Following the global economic crisis, it was observed that the budget allocations to social assistance had been increased, and cash transfers have been extended in many countries. In the 2001 and 2008 economic crises and during the global health crisis fueled by the pandemic, the social assistance schemes have emerged as crucial social policy intervention in responding to the social and economic effects of the situation. In Turkey, we could refer to a wide range of social assistance schemes. Yet, the emphasis of this article is on the cash for care which could be considered both social assistance and a care provision. In the European countries, there has been similar cash-for-care schemes being implemented since the 90s. However, unlike these cash-for-care schemes in Europe, in Turkey, the cash benefit is provided to the family member (care-giver) who provides care to a disabled or elderly in the family. In this context, the article deals with the cash for care scheme as a social assistance provision. It explores the concepts of deservingness and mobility concerning poor families' access to social assistance schemes. In our research that is being shared in the article, in-depth interviews were carried out with the social assistance provisions administrators, social workers, beneficiaries of the cash for care scheme, and the NGO representatives and based on their narratives, the concepts as mentioned above are being explored.