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Does 'welfare-to-work' work? A systematic review of the effectiveness of the UK's welfare-to-work programmes for people with a disability or chronic illness

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  • Bambra, Clare
  • Whitehead, Margaret
  • Hamilton, Val

Abstract

Welfare-to-work programmes promoting employment of people with a disability or chronic illness are an expanding aspect of welfare reform in the UK. What evidence is there of impact on employment outcomes? This paper presents a systematic review of the evidence on UK policy initiatives. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were identified: 5399 abstracts were located, from which 16 studies were critically appraised. Overall, each of the five main welfare-to-work strategies operating in the 1990s helped people with disabilities into work, who were previously on benefits. The proportion of participants gaining employment after involvement ranged from 11% to 50%, dependent on characteristics of participants, such as 'job-readiness', as well as wider labour market context. As most studies were uncontrolled, it was difficult to determine if the improved employment chances were due to the effectiveness of the welfare-to-work interventions themselves or to external factors. Wider impact, such as uptake of schemes as a proportion of the total target population, was weak. The qualitative components identified barriers and facilitators concerned with effective implementation, to aid design of future initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Bambra, Clare & Whitehead, Margaret & Hamilton, Val, 2005. "Does 'welfare-to-work' work? A systematic review of the effectiveness of the UK's welfare-to-work programmes for people with a disability or chronic illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(9), pages 1905-1918, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:9:p:1905-1918
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruwan Jayathilaka & Sheron Joachim & Venuri Mallikarachchi & Nishali Perera & Dhanushika Ranawaka, 2020. "Chronic diseases: An added burden to income and expenses of chronically-ill people in Sri Lanka," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Inge M Brokerhof & Jan Fekke Ybema & P Matthijs Bal, 2020. "Illness narratives and chronic patients’ sustainable employability: The impact of positive work stories," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Paul Frijters & Robert Gregory, 2006. "From Golden Age to Golden Age: Australia's ‘Great Leap Forward’?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 82(257), pages 207-224, June.
    4. Stefan Schandelmaier & Shanil Ebrahim & Susan C A Burkhardt & Wout E L de Boer & Thomas Zumbrunn & Gordon H Guyatt & Jason W Busse & Regina Kunz, 2012. "Return to Work Coordination Programmes for Work Disability: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(11), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Curnock, Esther & Leyland, Alastair H. & Popham, Frank, 2016. "The impact on health of employment and welfare transitions for those receiving out-of-work disability benefits in the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1-10.

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