Debating conditionality for disability benefits recipients and welfare reform: research evidence from Pathways to Work

TY - JOUR

T1 - Debating conditionality for disability benefits recipients and welfare reform

T2 - research evidence from Pathways to Work

AU - Weston, Katharine Helen

PY - 2012/8

Y1 - 2012/8

N2 - The Coalition Government's reform of welfare has revived debate about the imposition of conditions on receipt of disability benefits. In particular a debate published in the journal 'Policy and Politics' in 2011 discussed the extension of increased conditionality to this group and the associated policy levers, often referred to as 'carrots' (incentives) and 'sticks' (sanctions). This article adds to the debate by presenting findings from research with service users of Pathways to Work (until recently the main employment programme for people on disability benefits). These findings help to argue for greater recognition of the heterogeneity and diverse levels of need among disability benefits claimants, demonstrate advantages and disadvantages of conditional benefit receipt, and highlight the limited effectiveness of incentives and sanctions. Furthermore findings suggest a need to reconsider the emphasis in government policy on conditionality, where this obscures messages about the availability of personalised support.

AB - The Coalition Government's reform of welfare has revived debate about the imposition of conditions on receipt of disability benefits. In particular a debate published in the journal 'Policy and Politics' in 2011 discussed the extension of increased conditionality to this group and the associated policy levers, often referred to as 'carrots' (incentives) and 'sticks' (sanctions). This article adds to the debate by presenting findings from research with service users of Pathways to Work (until recently the main employment programme for people on disability benefits). These findings help to argue for greater recognition of the heterogeneity and diverse levels of need among disability benefits claimants, demonstrate advantages and disadvantages of conditional benefit receipt, and highlight the limited effectiveness of incentives and sanctions. Furthermore findings suggest a need to reconsider the emphasis in government policy on conditionality, where this obscures messages about the availability of personalised support.

KW - benefits

KW - disability benefits

KW - welfare

KW - disability

KW - welfare reform

KW - unemployment

KW - ILL-HEALTH

KW - incapacity benefit

KW - incapacity benefit claimants

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864490176&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0269094212444572

DO - 10.1177/0269094212444572

M3 - Article

SN - 0269-0942

VL - 27

SP - 514

EP - 528

JO - Local Economy

JF - Local Economy

IS - 5-6

ER -