The Use of the Social Fund by Families with Children
In-House Report No. 139
By Naomi Finch and Peter A. Kemp
This report examines the use of Social Fund loans by families with children. The research involved a review of the existing evidence on the Social Fund, together with secondary analysis of two large-scale datasets, the Families and Children Study (FACS) and the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The research examines the use of Social Fund loans - in particular budgeting loans - by families with children in receipt of qualifying benefits. It compares the characteristics and circumstances of families that have applied to the Social Fund for a loan or who are currently repaying a loan with non-applicants. It also examines the events that are associated with applications to the Social Fund and the impact of loans on hardship. The research was carried out by the Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of York.
July 2004
ISBN 1 84388 275 2 Paperback
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