30 July 2009 – Publication of DWP research report 586: Pathways to Work: the experiences of longer term existing customers - Findings from a survey of four-seven year 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 longer term existing customers in the original seven Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work pilot areas.

The National Centre for Social Research conducted face to face interviews with 1692 existing customers, with incapacity benefits (IB) claim lengths of around four to seven years. This research provides a useful comparator for an earlier survey of existing customers with IB claims of one to three years.

Key findings include:

• The general picture of the four to seven year customers is of a group even further disadvantaged by their health than the one to three year customers: 67 per cent considered themselves limited a great deal by their health or disability, compared to 59 per cent for one to three year customers.
• The majority of customers assessed their involvement in Pathways positively, even though not all believed it helped them in thinking about paid work. 73 per cent of customers reported that their Incapacity Benefit Personal Adviser listened to them ‘very well’ and 19 per cent described this as 'fairly well'.
• Four to seven year customers were less likely to take up a Choices element (13 per cent compared to 18 per cent of one to three year customers).
• Fewer customers (six per cent compared to nine per cent of one to three year customers) were in paid employment at the time of the survey interview – at around 16 months after participation in Pathways.
• Customers with mental health conditions were more likely to participate in a Choices element, than those without mental health conditions (15 per cent compared to 12 per cent) and generally assessed their health less negatively. This group was also slightly more active in looking for work (10 per cent compared to nine per cent).
• Amongst the four to seven year customers, older customers were even more disadvantaged health wise and they were further from moving into work.

Notes to Editors

1. The DWP research report: Pathways to Work: the experiences of longer term existing customers - Findings from a survey of four-seven year 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 (IB) and Employment and Support Allowance to find work. As part of the programme, a variety of work and health related services, known collectively as the Choices package is available. This research reports on the experiences of existing IB claimants in Jobcentre Plus led Pathways districts.
3. In April 2006, a modified version of Pathways to Work was extended to existing customers with an IB claim of up to six years duration at the time it was introduced locally in the seven pilot Jobcentre Plus areas. In practice, this meant that those included would have had a claim of roughly four to seven years at the time of the extension. Prior to this, in February 2005, Pathways was extended to existing customers with an IB claim of up to two years duration, which in practice meant that those included would have had a claim of roughly one to three years at the time of that extension.
4. The report authors are Tanja Sejersen, Oliver Hayllar and Martin Wood from the National Centre for Social Research.
5. The previous survey of existing customers with IB claims of one to three years can be found at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep527.pdf

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