["That You Don't Immediately Crash Into the Next Hole": Bonus Payments Support Return to Work for Individuals with...

The rehapro model project 'Employment Entry Incentive' (ESP), a bonus scheme designed to encourage individuals with long-term health impairments to take up regular employment. This qualitative study examined the effects of the ESP from the perspective of its recipients. Additionally, it explored the specific challenges for return to work faced by this target group.Between February 2021 and July 2022, qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 ESP recipients and analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach. A total of 11 women and 11 men from the jurisdictions of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) Braunschweig-Hannover (DRV BS-H) and DRV Mitteldeutschland (DRV MD) were interviewed by telephone. The study was conducted using a mixed methods design.The ESP primarily had a stabilizing function and facilitated transition into new employment by mitigating short-term financial constraints. It was frequently used for mobility and unforeseen expenses, contributing to planning reliability in everyday life. All participants were motivated to take up employment regardless of the ESP. No adverse incentives were identified. A crucial factor in job search was the alignment of the employment conditions with the individual's health situation and the prospect of long-term professional integration.The ESP provides low-threshold financial support that facilitates return to work and contributes to stabilizing individuals' life situations in the initial months of employment. Its flexibility allows for needs-based application. The alignment of employment conditions with existing health limitations is critical for successful reintegration. The potential of the ESP as a labor market reintegration measure lies in its positive effects on participation and stability across various aspects of life.