Qualitative research exploring the Pathways to Work sanctions regime
by Martin Mitchell and Kandy Woodfield
The Pathways to Work pilots were introduced in 2003 to help Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients move towards and into paid work.
Under the reforms, IB customers are liable to have a percentage of their benefit entitlement sanctioned if they fail to attend a Work Focused Interview (WFI) and are unable to account for this by showing good cause. This study sought to explore the role that sanctioning played in decisions about attendance at WFIs and subsequent engagement with the programme.
This report is based on qualitative research conducted by the National Centre for Social Research, the Social Policy Research Unit at York University at the Policy Studies Institute in 2007. It is primarily based on 34 in-depth interviews with new and existing customers who had experience of the sanctioning process. The study also drew on secondary analysis of previous qualitative research conducted with Incapacity Benefit Personal Advisers (IBPAs) and IB customers as part of the wider evaluation of the Pathways to Work programme.
January 2008 110 pages 297x210mm
ISBN 978 1 84712 280 3
(459 KB)