Research and analysis

The feasibility of conducting a Universal Credit panel survey

This report examines the feasibility of a survey to study the impact of Universal Credit on the same group of people over a period of time.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 13 March 2015

Documents

The feasibility of conducting a Universal Credit panel survey

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78425-487-2 , Ad hoc research report 22

PDF, 554 KB, 43 pages

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Details

As part of the Universal Credit evaluation strategy a panel study has been proposed. This study would allow the Department for Work and Pensions to monitor the impact of Universal Credit on the same group of people over a period of time. From this it would be possible to identify:

• changes in behaviour and attitudes to work, work search, benefits and money management

• whether policies to smooth the transition to work are having the required effect

• whether individuals understand the benefit system and their behaviour in response to Universal Credit conditionality

A feasibility study was considered to be necessary before commissioning such a study because panel studies are complex and potentially resource intensive.

Authors: Heather Laurie, Nick Buck, Jonathon Burton, Violetta Parutis, Mark Bryan, Peter Lugtig and Mike Brewer – all at the University of Essex, Institute for Social and Economic Research.

Published 13 March 2015