In transit? Documenting the lived experiences of welfare, working and caring for one-parent families claiming Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment

Abstract

This research, conducted in conjunction with One Family, set out to document the lived experiences of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) recipients and to explore how JST is working ‘on the ground’. Because JST is a relatively new payment in the Irish social welfare system, little is known about how it is experienced by recipients. Furthermore, because people living in single parent households are consistently over-represented in poverty statistics across all metrics (at risk of poverty, enforced deprivation and consistent poverty), how caregivers in one-parent households experience a policy that is designed with such households in mind represents important work. The research was qualitative in nature and the original data presented in the report were collected via one focus group coupled with a series of ten interviews. A substantial review of the literature was also undertaken, and this was used to frame the research. Available statistics, along with statistics obtained via parliamentary questions, are also used to inform the research. The core aims for this research were as follows: Develop an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of the recipients of JST; Develop an understanding of how JST policy is working ‘on the ground’; Document the challenges and benefits associated with the payment; Develop a claimant-based user guide as a resource for new entrants to the payment scheme; Generate research data of relevance to One Family and related support and advocacy groups in their work with one parent families and their policy work in terms of the future direction of JST.