the participant survey showed that on average half of the participants in work while on the work programme received inwork support the support rates were higher for participants with caring responsibilities and those with long unemployment spells prior to employment inwork support included advice from a personal adviser help and support with benefits and financial advice and contact with the employer to support the participant however providers did not use the sustainment payments to pay eratype retention bonuses also providers emphasised a need of inwork support for those who had been out of work for longer periods in contrast of participants entering work avoided or refused the inwork support possibly because they felt stigmatised by being on the work programme or wanted to feel that they had moved on from unemployment