Who needs cash? The deservingness perceptions of Brazilian civil servants in cash‐based social policy implementation

Abstract

Drawing on existing European research findings, we assess factors driving Brazilian social security street-level officials' deservingness perceptions through survey and administrative data. Ordered regression analyses gauge the effects of socioeconomic status, social work academic background and face-to-face contact with the public on these officials' perceptions towards social assistance beneficiaries under seven deservingness criteria. A middle-class socioeconomic status increased the odds that beneficiaries are seen as undeserving under the criteria of social investment, control and reciprocity, while a high socioeconomic status is linked to benevolent perceptions of their need. A social work academic background is strongly linked to higher overall deservingness perceptions, whereas frequent face-to-face contact with the public can reduce them under the control deservingness criterion. The research takes a new step in the direction of deservingness survey studies, suggesting the formulation of new analytical frameworks and increasing policymakers' awareness of the importance of variables driving bureaucracy decisions.