Means-tested benefits in Britain are built on the principle that individuals with significant financial resources should use those before turning to the state for help. That’s why wealth – as well as income – is assessed when determining eligibility and entitlement levels for means-tested support. Few would argue that demonstrably rich people should receive equal support from the state than those with less resources to draw on. But although income means-testing has been widely studied and debated, capital means testing has received far less attention.
