Qualitative Evaluation of the Lone Parent Pilots PSI Work and Social Policy seminar series, 15 May 2007 Kathryn Ray & Sandra Vegeris Policy Studies Institute Ray, K., Vegeris, S., Brooks, S., Campbell-Barr, V., Hoggart, L., Mackinnon, K. and Shutes I. (2007) The lone parents pilots: A qualitative evaluation of Quarterly Work Focused Interviews (12+), Work Search Premium and In Work Credit DWP Research report (

The Pilots In Work Credit (IWC) –£40 weekly payment on entering work of 16+ hrs a week, for max of 12 months Quarterly WFI (12+) (QWFI(12+)) –mandatory quarterly interview for lone parents with child(ren) aged 12 or over Work Search Premium (WSP) –payment of £20 a week, for max of 26 weeks, in exchange for undertaking job search activities

Qualitative evaluation design & methods Selection of districts with different pilot combinations Stage One – research with staff Stage Two – research with lone parent customers –70 depth interviews with customers experiencing different pilot combinations –follow-up telephone interviews 3 months later with sample of customers (40) Five customer groups, experiencing different pilot combinations: –IWC only (26) including IWC leavers both before and after eligibility ended –WSP & IWC (10) –QWFI & IWC (14) –WSP only –QWFI only

Lone parent experiences & views of IWC Lone parent participants overwhelmingly positive –Day to day expenses –Reliability and frequency Leaving In Work Credit –Left after eligibility ended –Left before eligibility ended

Lone parent perceptions of impact Effect on decision to look for work –Timing and lifecourse –Sampling issues Effect on job search Effect on work retention Who did it make most difference to?

Work journeys 1: Lauren Background –Age: 43, 2 children aged 7 and 10 –Work history: worked in hotels as a housekeeper for a number of years, out of work to bring up children for around 4 years, completed a diploma in hotel management while on IS –Wanted to work only in school hours as did not want children to be in childcare outside the school day Work journey: Steady –Working 16 hours a week as a catering assistant in a school –Prefers to work but finds the work unfulfilling.

Role of IWC –No incentive effect, only found out once accepted the job –But has made a real difference to financial wellbeing in work: “It hasn’t helped keeping me in my job, but it has helped me meeting my day-to-day bills in the house. … because like there are things that [normally] wait till the end of the month, but because with the £40 like, the normal weekly shopping in the house … you don’t have to wait for your payslip.” –Since IWC finished has considered leaving work, problems with Housing Benefit and Council Tax, does not feel better off –Is unclear how increasing hours would impact on other in-work benefits

Work journeys 2: Liesl Background –Age: 20s, 2 children aged 7 and 8 –Work history: factory work and care work then 5 years out of work bringing up children –Wanted PT work to fit round children’s school hours Work journey: Broken –Worked for 2 years PT in retail –Left due to childcare arrangements breaking down (childminder left), also dissatisfaction with ‘flexible’ and antisocial hours, and problems with WTC –6 mth gap then another PT retail job, again left because childcare arrangements broke down (father became ill). –Wave 2 interview: out of work but pursuing courses in teaching assistance and childminding

“I thought the only job I might be able to get is maybe working in a shop, and that’s not my, that’s not where I want to be. So I thought I’d go and do the course, get the qualifications that I need, then I can do what I want to do, then I can be happy!” Role of IWC –No incentive effect because found out after taken a job –Helped to make ends meet in first job –But interaction with tax credits: overpayments which were then deducted left her feeling worse off in work –Increased hours after IWC finished to make up shortfall in income

Issues from the work journey analysis Role of financial supplements Progression in work –Adviser support at transition periods –Combining work and care Multiple transitions in early stages of work