02 October 2008 – Publication of DWP research report 527 – Pathways to Work: the experiences of existing customers – findings from a survey of existing incapacity benefits customers in the first seven pilot areas

This new report published today by the Department for Work and Pensions presents the findings from a survey of existing customers in the original seven Pathways to Work pilot areas.

The National Centre for Social Research conducted face to face interviews with 2207 existing customers (with incapacity benefits claim lengths of around 1 to 3 years). This research provides a useful comparator for an earlier survey of new/repeat customers (DWP report 456).

Key findings include:

• The nature of health conditions and disabilities varied but were commonly long-term, and for the majority they were not improving. Commonly, these health conditions and disabilities greatly limited their day to day activities (59%).
• Generally, existing customers represent an older group than both the general population, and new/repeat customers (with 70% aged 40+ and 29% aged 55+).
• At 13 months, 9% of existing customers were in paid work (compared to 35% of new/repeat customers). This is a good result given the low base of existing IB customers returning to work (see note 6).

Overall existing customers had a positive relationship with Pathways to Work:

• 82% of existing customers attended at least one work focused interview (WFI), with 22% attending the mandatory 3 WFIs and 42% attending 3 or more.
• The WFIs were generally well-received.  The majority of customers said that their incapacity benefits personal adviser (IBPA) listened to them very well (73%) or fairly well (21%). Of those who attended at least one WFI, 28% said that this helped them think about paid work in the future ‘a lot’, and a further 26% ‘a little’.
• 18% of existing customers took up one or more of the Choices elements – the most common being the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) and Condition Management Programme (CMP): both at 8%. CMP take-up was double that of new/repeat customers.
• Participation in WFIs and Choices was more likely amongst customers in better health.

Notes to Editors

1. The DWP research report: Pathways to Work: the experiences of existing customers - findings from a survey of existing incapacity benefits customers in the first seven pilot areas is published today on DWP website.
2. Pathways to Work provides extra help for people on incapacity benefits to find work. As part of the programme, a variety of work and health related services, known collectively as the Choices package, was available to customers to help them move back towards work or help them manage their health condition.
3. In February 2005, a modified version of Pathways to Work was extended to existing customers with an IB claim of up to two years, at the time it was introduced in the seven pilot areas. In practice, this meant that those included would have had a claim of roughly one to three years at the time of the extension.
4. The report authors are Jon Hales, Oliver Hayllar, Christianah Iyaniwura and Martin Wood from the National Centre for Social Research.
5. The previous survey of new and repeat IB customers can be found at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep456.pdf
6. Although the overall employment rate is not as high as for new/repeat customers, these are absolute figures only and do not represent the value added by Pathways (estimated in the previous impact studies). The value added was greater for existing customers than for new/repeat customers. The impact study for new/repeat customers found an increased employment rate at 18 months from 28% without Pathways to 35% with Pathways (Bewley et al. DWP report 435: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep435.pdf). The impact study for existing customers found an increase from 2.8% without Pathways to 6.3% with Pathways (Bewley et al. DWP report 488: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep488.pdf).

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