DWP is refining its offer for Universal Credit benefit claimants, as part of a wider intent to move from a one-size-fits-all to a more tailored approach to improve the service and deliver potential efficiencies. The speakers will discuss the use of a cluster randomised trial to provide evidence for policy change recommendations.
Talk will start at
16:30 in Lecture Theatre 10.
Refreshments will be available from 16:00 in Room I15, Hicks Building.
DWP is refining its offer for Universal Credit (UC) benefit claimants. This is part of a wider intent to move from a one-size fits all to a more tailored approach to improve the service and deliver potential efficiencies.
The UC Work Search Review (WSR) Channels trial is randomised and clustered at the Jobcentre level, with stratification. The treatment encourages Work Coaches in 110 Jobcentres to make use of telephone and video channels for their appointments with claimants instead of, business as usual, face-to-face meetings in another 110 Jobcentres. We test whether the treatment is non-inferior (NI) regarding future average monthly claimant employment earnings.
We estimate the treatment effect via linear regression, accounting for stratification and baseline covariates.
We are undertaking an impact assessment at 12 months after claimants started the trial to provide evidence for whether a policy change is recommended.
Angelo Valerio and Dan Woodell
Depratment for work and Pensions (DWP)