Current Projects

Experiences of using the Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS)
As part of promoting greater independence and well-being in later life, the government wants to make sure that everyone who is entitled to certain benefits actually receives them, and that they are delivered in the most effective way. At present, not all of those who are entitled to benefits for older people are claiming them and little is known about how people find out information about their entitlements. This research is looking at what kind of events in people’s lives may prompt contact with the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS), and what people’s experience of service delivery has been. The PDCS hopes this research will help them to make the process easier and more effective for its customers in the future.

Literature Review to Inform the Future Digitisation of Jobcentre Plus Service Delivery

In line with the Government’s ‘Digital Britain’ project, Jobcentre Plus, who sponsors the project, aims to increase the range of services that are delivered online and encourage its customers to migrate to this channel. CRSP was commissioned to undertake a literature review that evaluates UK and international texts covering:

customers’/clients’ appetite for online use and potential resource obstacles;

future projections of internet access and technological developments; and

best practice in online service delivery in both the public and private sphere.

A key aspect of the review is an assessment of the extent to which particular changes may have differential impacts on – or raise different issues for – different parts of their customer base: for example, lone parents, disabled people and people from minority ethnic populations.

The final report was submitted in June 2010. It is anticipated that the report will be published in the summer.

Evaluation of the Older Workers Face-to-Face Guidance Pilot
The Government’s Green Paper: A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering people to work includes a commitment to increasing employment among people aged 50 and over. As part of the process, the DWP is funding a pilot study whereby independent advisors offer guidance to people of older working age about a range of issues related to work and retirement. CRSP has been contracted to evaluate this pilot. The study aims to establish what information older working people need, and how they an access it, in order to make an informed decision about work and retirement in later life. The evaluation started in December 2007 and has a completion date of March 2010.

Sponsor: Department for Work and Pensions

Recent Projects

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the New Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB)
Sponsor: Department for Children, Schools and Families

Where Does the Money go? Credit and Debt today
Sponsor: Josep h Rowntree Foundation

A Minimum Income Standard for Northern Ireland
Sponsor: Josep h Rowntree Foundation

The Children's Market: characteristics, trends and strategies
Sponsor: Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport

Understanding the Experience of Ethnic Minorities at Loughborough University
Sponsor: Loughborough University

Evaluating Wave 2 of the Local Housing Allowance
Sponsor: Department for Work and Pensions

Related Publications
Hill, K., Harvey, J., Phung, V-H., Sandu, A. and Roberts, S. (2007), Local Housing Allowance Final Evaluation: the qualitative evidence of claimants' experience in the nine Pathfinder areas. Local Housing Allowance Evaluation Report 13, Department for Work and Pensions, Corporate Document Services, Leeds.

Roberts, S., Beckhelling, J., Phung, V-H. (CRSP), Boreham, R., Anderson, T., and Li, N. (NatCen), (2006), Living with the Local Housing Allowance: claimants' experiences after fifteen months of the LHA in the nine Pathfinder areas. Local Housing Allowance Report 9, Department for Work and Pensions, Corporate Document Services, Leeds.

Roberts, S., Beckhelling, J., Hill, K., Phung, V-H. and Stafford, B. (CRSP), Stratford, N. and Anderson, T. (NatCen), (2005), Receiving the Local Housing Allowance: claimants’ early experiences of the LHA in the nine pathfinder areas. Local Housing Allowance Evaluation Report 6, Department for Work and Pensions, Corporate Document Services, Leeds.

Further information and publications on LHA.

Needs and Resources in Later Life
Sponsor: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Related Publications
Middleton, S., Hancock, R., Kellard, K., Beckhelling, J., Phung, V-H. and Perren, K. (2007), Measuring Resources in Later Life: a review of the data,York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The needs and resources of older people, Findings

Kellard, K., Beckhelling, J., Phung, V-H., Middleton, S., Perren, K. and Hancock, R., (2006), Needs and Resources in Later Life: technical report, CRSP Working Paper 537.

Evaluation of the Adult Learning Grant

Related Publications
Magadi, M., Chzhen, Y., Pound, E., Phung, V-H., Tanner, E., Michaelson, J., Finch, S. and Mackenzie, H. (2006), Evaluation of the Adult Learning Grant Cohort 1 (Waves 1 and 2), Learning and Skills Council, National Office, Coventry.

Pound, E., Chzhen, Y., Magadi, M., Phung, V-H., Michaelson, J., Finch, S., Tanner, E. and Mackenzie, H. (2006), Evaluation of the Adult Learning Grant Cohort 2 (Wave 1), Learning and Skills Council, National Office, Coventry.

Pound, E., Maguire, M., Middleton, S. and Ashton-Brooks, K. (2004), A Qualitative Investigation into the First Year (Pilot) Implementation of the Adult Learning Grant, Loughborough: CRSP Working Paper 511.

Sponsor: Department for Education and Skills and the Learning and Skills Council

Evaluating the extension of the New Deal for Disabled People
Sponsor: Department for Work and Pensions

Public sector responses to the Disability Discrimination Act
Sponsor: Department for Work and Pensions

Centre for Research in Social Policy Loughborough University Leicestershire, UK, LE11 3TU Tel: +44 (0)1509 223372/223618