Type of Project: Funded project Study Scientific Work Model project
Entry Support (ESP). Encouragement to seek contributory employment by paying a bonus

The project ESP is aimed at insured persons who principally have a claim to receive a reintegration allowance payable to their employer when taking up contributory employment. These persons now have the choice to receive themselves a financial support of up to 400 Euro for the first 6 and a one-off payment of 600 Euro after 12 months of continuous employment. The support is meant to motivate insured persons and to enable them to master expenses in relation to taking up the employment such as work clothes or commuter tickets.

The project’s goals are:
- Increased rate of taking up employment by persons who receive the ESP – particularly those who engage in low income work,
- Being employed throughout and after the intervention, and
- To establish an alternative programme to the employer’s reintegration allowance.

The number of participants in the project is approximately 468 persons during an intervention period of 24 months. The project is being conducted by the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Braunschweig-Hannover in cooperation with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland (state of Thuringia). The project is being evaluated by the Medical University Hanover (MHH). The MHH will survey participants at the beginning and after 12 months of the employment in order to determine the user group of the ESP and its experiences. The long-term labour market participation and contribution periods will be analysed for participants and non-participants. A number of participants and employees of the Rentenversicherung will be invited for in-depth interviews and focus groups to discuss aspects and the administration of the ESP in more detail.

The project is led by Andreas Wenzel with support by Dr Felix Behling and Dr Kerstin Mattukat.