Research and analysis

The Future Cohort Study: understanding Universal Credit’s future in-work claimant group

This report explores the individual, household and employment circumstances of tax credit and Housing Benefit claimants, with a particular focus on attitudes and support needs around in-work progression.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 1 July 2021

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

The Future Cohort Study: understanding Universal Credit’s future in-work claimant group

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78659-341-2, Ad hoc report no. 81

HTML

The Future Cohort Study: understanding Universal Credit’s future in-work claimant group

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78659-341-2, Ad hoc report no. 81

PDF, 5.9 MB, 159 pages

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Details

This research was commissioned as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP’s) 4-year evidence building programme to support the development of in-work services in Universal Credit.

The report presents findings from a telephone survey and qualitative interviews into the composition and characteristics the ‘future cohort’. This is the group of tax credit and Housing Benefit claimants who based on their incomes would fall into the ‘Light Touch’ regime in Universal Credit if moved over today.

The report explores claimants’ household and employment circumstances, their attitudes towards work and progression, including perceived barriers and enablers, and their needs and preferences around different types of support.

Claimants moving over from tax credits and Housing Benefit will make up the vast majority of DWP’s future in-work claimant group. This research, therefore, will support DWP to design and test effective services for this group.

This research was conducted between April and October 2019.

Authors: Trinh Tu, Joanna Crossfield, Yasmin White, Jamie Douglas (Ipsos MORI)

Published 1 July 2021