Evaluations and Research
The first formal government evaluation of the Working for Families package describes public awareness of the package and details classes of recipients of Working for Families entitlements to the end of August 2006. The report cites a high level of awareness of the overall package and a high level of receipt of Working for Families payments, meeting or exceeding original forecasts. Since the introduction of the package, the number of families receiving the Domestic Purposes Benefit has fallen by 8,000; with 2,600 recipients cancelling the benefit since the implementation of the In-Work Tax Credit. — While awareness of the package and its advertising appears high, the evaluation-report found that only around three-quarters of people who believe they receive a tax credit actually did so when matched to administrative records. Further, of the people surveyed who did receive a tax credit only two-thirds realised that they did.
Several articles have addressed the potential or theoretical impacts of the Working for Families package.
One study by Auckland University economist Tim Maloney and American welfare-reform researcher John Fitzgerald found that, on average, working mothers spent an extra three hours a week working after the 2005 and 2006 changes from the Working for Families package. Initial speculation suggested that working hours would fall as the higher income paid to families with dependent children would mean that mothers could spend less time in work. Maloney believes that "some women already working were probably increasing their hours worked in order to qualify for family assistance payments". The authors class the results as preliminary — given the relatively recent introduction of the Working for Families package.
Further evaluations completed by the Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue include:
- The summary report of the evaluation of the Working for Families package.
- Receipt of Working for Families
- Receipt of Working for Families – 2007 Update
- Employment incentives for sole parents: Labour market effects of changes to financial incentives and support
- Employment incentives for sole parents: Labour market effects of changes to financial incentives and support. Technical report.
Read more about this topic: Working For Families
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