A Qualitative Study on the Context of Welfare Exit of Low-income Individuals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors and their context of welfare exit of low-income individuals. To accomplish this purpose, researchers used data collected through in-depth interviews with 8 low-income individuals in qualitative panel related on Korea Welfare Panel, and analysed the data applying ‘context-structure analysis’ method. This analysis method is comprised of cross-sectional dimension, phenomenon-experience level, and ecological-systematic perspective. Researchers classified the diverse phenomenon and experiences with the core elements, direct elements, and indirect elements, and displayed them in diagram form. The results are as follows. Core elements of welfare exit are ‘earned income’(phenomenon level), and ‘willingness to exit from welfare’(experience level). Success or failure of welfare exit did not coincide exactly with their will, and diverse elements related with welfare exit have influenced it positively or negatively. Also, ‘happiness’ and ‘children’ elements have direct or indirect relations with other phenomenon or experience elements in context of welfare exit. Based on these results, researchers proposed guidelines for social welfare policy and practice to support welfare exit of low-income individuals.