The next chapter will set the scene for the thesis. A brief history of income maintenance policies for unemployed and sick workers will be given from 1834 to the present. In doing so, the literature review is able to show significant areas of continuity towards the unemployed, with discourses of
‘scroungermania’ present throughout this period (Moore, 1981). The chapter will argue, however, that whilst the disabled were traditionally seen as largely exempt from these negative discourses, since the 1990s, the long term sick have begun to be treated as another ‘undeserving’ group. I will
argue that within Pathways to Work (DWP, 2002), there has been a convergence of policy for the long term sick and the unemployed. The second part of the literature review examines policy implementation. It will be shown through a review of policy documents that although Pathways to Work (DWP, 2002) introduced increased conditionality for IB claimants, it is up to those Advisors administering the policy within Jobcentre Plus to determine how strictly the policy is implemented (Lipsky, 1980; Wright, 2003).
Chapter Three will outline the research question to be addressed before introducing the research strategy. An interpretivist qualitative multi-method approach was utilised, and this will be described fully. Whilst contemporary disability studies (eg: Barnes, 2001) argues for a full emancipatory approach, the limitations of this approach for answering the research questions will be explored. A full description of data sources, including sample selection and access arrangement will be given. It will be shown that four groups took part in the research; eight Jobcentre Plus Advisors, 13 Condition Management Programme clinical staff and managers, ten engaged IB claimants (who took part in voluntary work-focused activity and were recruited through their participation in the CMP) and 11 unengaged IB claimants (who generally had not taken part in voluntary work-focused activity and were recruited from non-CMP venues). Thus the data comprised transcripts of 42 semi-structured interviews with the individuals described above, observation of 14 Work Focused Interviews conducted by one Advisor in one Jobcentre Plus office, and 10 Condition Management Programme case files. Data were analysed using the Miles and Huberman (1994) three stage technique, involving data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing. The use of this strategy and examples of its implementation will be given. Finally, the chapter ends by describing some of the key ethical issues within the research.
The three empirical chapters (Chapters Four - Six) cover the chronological journey of IB claimants. Firstly, their background, work history and why they
began their claim for IB. The second chapter will focus upon attending compulsory Work Focused Interviews at Jobcentre Plus offices. The final empirical chapter presents data from the (voluntary) Condition Management Programme. The three chapters follow a non-traditional format. Each chapter will provide an overview of selected literature in the area before presenting data alongside a discussion of the literature.
The first empirical chapter, Chapter Four, presents a range of arguments for why the IB claimant count has risen over time. In addition to this, specific Pathways onto IB are mapped, and presented in diagrammatic format by the author. It can be seen that routes onto IB are a complex interaction between many factors, including health conditions, employment type and security, and knowledge of the benefit system. The chapter continues by presenting empirical findings, specifically detailing the 21 IB claimants’
journeys from work to IB. Work and employment histories are examined before moving on to describe the onset of ill health and its deterioration into worklessness. Conclusions will be drawn by linking data to the existing literature.
Chapter Five focuses upon IB claimants’ and Jobcentre Plus Advisors’
experiences of compulsory Work Focused Interviews that are part of Pathways to Work. Firstly, the small amount of existing literature is examined. The second part of the chapter focuses upon data from semi
structured interviews with Advisors and claimants, and also draws upon the fieldwork undertaken where 14 Work Focused Interviews were observed.
Exploration of the data occurs in a broadly chronological pattern, beginning with claimants’ early contact with Jobcentre Plus when making their first attempt to claim IB; such attempts did not always result in IB being awarded.. The chapter then describes what occurs within WFIs through the Advisors’ perspectives and the claimants’ experiences with reference made to the observation period where relevant. Advisors’ experiences of attempting to refer claimants to work focused activity, including their relationship with targets will be discussed. Furthermore, claimants’
decisions to participate in work focused activity will be described in some detail, before moving on to look at sanctions imposed by Advisors.
The third empirical chapter, Chapter Six, will guide the reader through the small amount of previous research carried out on the Condition Management Programme. The rest of the chapter will present the results of the research project as a chronological account of attending CMP, contrasting participants’ views with those of staff and case files. Where possible such views will also be compared to the literature. The results will be arranged around key themes including initial assessments, the content of interventions, and outcomes of participation. The chapter concludes by asking if Pathways is achieving its aims.
Chapter Seven follows a non-traditional discussion format. The chapter returns to the key themes identified in Chapter Two, examining the political intentions behind the Pathways to Work policy and returning to the data to examine how Jobcentre Plus Advisors and CMP clinical staff use discretion within their job roles. In order to do so effectively, both Advisors’ and clinicians’ opinions of IB claimants are examined. Alongside this, IB claimants’ views of other claimants are described and analysed alongside the literature. Finally the chapter asks, based upon the data from this project in isolation, did Pathways to Work meet its aims?
The final chapter concludes the thesis. It provides the reader with an account of the ways in which Pathways to Work and IB have changed since the research began. It will be shown that increased conditionality is now applied to sick and disabled claimants, which neglects their vulnerable labour market position. The thesis ends with recommendations for policy change and future research.