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Changing Family Dynamics and In-Work Benefits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2019

Clíona Rooney  and
Jane Gray
Clíona Rooney
Affiliation:
UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway E-mail: cliona.rooney@opw.ie
Jane Gray
Affiliation:
Maynooth University Social Science Institute (MUSSI), Maynooth University E-mail: jane.gray@mu.ie
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Abstract

Internationally, in-work benefits (IWBs) are widely adopted as a measure to assist parents transitioning to work and to ‘make work pay’ for low-income families. The family income supplement (FIS) is an Irish IWB, introduced at a time of rapid societal change. This article shows how changing family dynamics, and a shift in policy focus towards a ‘work-first’ approach, challenged the original values underlying FIS. We discuss FIS in the context of changes to family life and social policy. We then outline the results of ten interviews with experts using three themes: work-first approach, child poverty and encouraging care. Our analysis shows that policymakers faced new challenges to provide an income support for children while also promoting full-time labour participation. FIS continues to support working families, but in a manner that creates contradictions for the contemporary ‘work-first’ approach. It is necessary to re-examine FIS in relation to its wider policy context and to address requirements for caring.

Keywords

In-work benefitsfamily changesocial policylow-income familieswork-first policy.
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , April 2020 , pp. 185 - 205
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019

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