15th June 2005 - Publication Of DWP Research Report: The Role Of Work In Low Income Families With Children – A Longitudinal Qualitative Study
Research published today by the Department for Work and Pensions explores the experiences and longer-term impact of work on families with children, following an initial transition from benefits into work. The research was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, and followed-up two previous DWP studies which interviewed families at the point where they had made the initial transition into work. This study re-interviewed the families, two years on from their original interview.
The main findings are as follows:
- The factors that motivated retention in work were not all the same as factors that had initially motivated entry into work. For example, desire to avoid benefit dependency became less of a consideration, while desire for a job that met their aspirations for personal development and allowed a balance between work and family became increasingly important.
- Tax credits were viewed very positively and had helped to make work sustainable. However, in some cases, problems with reporting changes, miscalculations and awareness had affected their impact.
- Certain people in the sample, such as those with particular skills and those who were highly motivated, had moved between jobs quite smoothly. Others, such as those who had lost their job at short notice, lacked confidence or were not proactive in seeking other work, had found difficulties in re-entering work once dropping out of the labour market.
- Families sustaining work had become less reliant on more expensive sources of credit such as catalogues and loan sharks and had access to more secure sources such as bank accounts.
- Families sustaining work had also began saving – something that hadn’t been evident in the first two studies at the time of their initial transition into work.
- The financial and material impacts of work were not simply dependent on the level of household income from wages and tax credits. Financial management skills were crucial in mediating impacts.
- Those able to manage finances had often been able to repay debts accrued during the initial transition into work, make steady improvements to material circumstances of their children and themselves, and save money to protect against future job loss and instability. Those less able to manage their finances had experienced fewer benefits from sustained work.
- Psychological impacts of work were broadly similar to those identified in the first two studies, such as increased self-esteem, confidence, and higher aspirations for parents. This was balanced with some concerns about a lack of time available to spend with children.
- Better social adjustment was reported for children thanks to the material benefits and loss of stigma of moving from benefits to work. Parents also reported an increased determination for their children to avoid benefit dependency.
Notes to editors:
The research was conducted by Jenny Graham, Rosalind Tennant, Matt Huxley and William O’Connor at the National Centre for Social Research and follows up two previous DWP studies (Research reports 192 and 175) which interviewed families at the point where they had made the initial transition into work.
The role of work in low income families with children – a longitudinal qualitative study (report series No.245) is published on 15th June 2005. A summary and copy of the report is available on the DWP website: http//www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5.
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