The Government's own research suggests policies that would force loneparents into work are fatally flawed.
Ministers are considering proposals that would make lone parents'benefits conditional on looking for work. But such conditions couldactually deter such parents from engaging with the job centre orback-to-work schemes, according to research published by the Departmentfor Work and Pensions last week.
The evaluation examined the effectiveness of New Deal Plus for LoneParents, an initiative designed to help parents get work (see fact box).As well as acting as a deterrent to lone parents, putting conditions onbenefits was seen as "an administrative burden" by Job Centre Plusadvisers. In contrast, extra money for parents once they start workingwas "recognised as a strong incentive to enter employment".
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
