Gatekeeping disability income support: A conceptual model

Abstract

In most developed countries, disability income support caseloads are on the rise. Little empirical knowledge exists, however, about how policy-makers design these programmes, contributing to caseload growth. This article specifically explores how the boundary between who is eligible and who is not for disability income support is drawn in Australia and Canada. Forty-five interviews were conducted between March 2012 and September 2013 with informants who were or are currently involved in designing disability income support in these jurisdictions. Analysis followed the fundamental steps of grounded theory. Findings revealed that the informants describe this process as “gatekeeping,” which can ..