Paper short abstract:

This study explores the impact of digitalisation on UK food insecurity, examining Universal Credit, pre-paid cards, and e-vouchers. Findings show digitalisation's mixed effects, increasing access but also barriers for some, raising concerns about digital equity and the role of private partnerships.

Paper long abstract:

This paper outlines key findings from a scoping study exploring the impact of digitalisation in welfare systems on food insecurity for marginalised populations in the UK. The study integrates a literature review, interviews with stakeholders, and an analysis of digital transitions in welfare, including Universal Credit, pre-paid cards (e.g. Healthy Start as food assistance for pregnant women and young children or Aspen card for asylum seekers), and electronic school food vouchers. Initial findings reveal a nuanced relationship between digital welfare administration, private partnerships, and food insecurity. Digitalisation, aimed at enhancing efficiency and expanding access paradoxically heightens barriers for certain groups, potentially increasing their risk of food insecurity. A significant concern is the reliability and transparency of how digital systems are developed and managed. These challenges highlight a broader issue of digital equity in welfare systems and raise questions about the role and priority of the private sector. The study explores the feasibility of inclusive digitalisation strategies in welfare, the challenges posed by the current digitalisation infrastructure, and emphasises the need for human-centric design and protocols to safeguard the vulnerable against unintended adverse effects.