Employment and Support Allowance trials 2015
These reports evaluate the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) additional support trials which took place in 2015.
Documents
Details
These reports evaluate trials of 3 forms of additional support for ESA claimants. The additional support included:
- voluntary early intervention
- the Claimant Commitment
- more intensive support
The additional support aimed to help claimants progress towards the labour market. The trials were launched in spring 2015 as part of a wider package of ESA reforms.
To fulfil a commitment to evaluate the support offered in the trials, we carried out:
- quantitative analysis of the trial interventions and their impacts
- qualitative research with work coaches and claimants
The research and analysis helps us to understand:
- whether the trials helped claimants move into work
- what aspects of the trials were most effective, and for whom
- the nature of the support
- staff and claimant experiences of, and perspectives on, the trials
- intermediate outcomes for claimants such as changes to attitude, self-efficacy, motivation and behaviours towards jobseeking
- the level of demand for health-related advice and physiotherapy services
The research and analysis supports our strategic objectives of increasing disability employment and tailoring support in a more integrated and personalised manner.
Authors
The 2015 ESA trials: a synthesis
Martin Moran (Department for Work and Pensions (DWP))
The 2015 ESA trials: a synthesis of qualitative research with work coaches
Clare Lyne, Morgan Draper and Jo Whateley (DWP)
The 2015 ESA trials: a synthesis of qualitative research with claimants
Becci Newton (Institute for Employment Studies) and Roy Sainsbury (Social Policy Research Unit, University of York)