Research and analysis

Evaluation of Mandatory Work Activity (RR823)

Mandatory Work Activity was launched in May 2011 and is targeted at a small group of claimants.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 1 December 2012

Documents

Evaluation of Mandatory Work Activity (RR823): report

Ref: ISBN 978-1-909532-03-8

PDF, 2.46 MB, 169 pages

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Evaluation of Mandatory Work Activity (RR823): summary

PDF, 378 KB, 6 pages

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Details

Mandatory Work Activity was launched in May 2011 and is targeted at a small group of claimants and referral to MWA is at Jobcentre Plus Adviser discretion. MWA is a work placement of 30 hours a week lasting for four weeks. The placements are sourced by contracted providers in organisations/institutions that deliver a community benefit.

The aim of MWA is to move claimants closer to work through:

• gaining a better understanding of labour market discipline via the work placement and;
• demonstrating to claimants that receipt of benefit for those able to work is conditional on their willingness to search for and take-up employment.

The latest official statistics on Mandatory Work Activity were published on the 14th November which report 90,470 referrals and 33,170 starts for the period May 2011 to August 2012.

This research complements the impact assessment of Mandatory Work Activity published in June 2012.

The research has found that MWA has an impact on participants’ proximity to the labour market via an impact on a range of soft outcomes. The research report also identifies a number of challenges in service delivery and makes recommendations, many of which DWP have already addressed through continuous improvement activity.

Published 1 December 2012