The family-work project is a longitudinal study of the experience of lone mothers and their children, following a move into work supported by tax credits, after a period of time receiving out of work benefits. The aim was to examine the impact of paid work – and for some, job loss – on family life and living standards over time. The study explored how a cohort of lone mothers and their children negotiated the everyday challenges of low-income employment over a period of five years (2003-2008). The project found that most women maintained some form of employment and were able to negotiate some of the most important years in family life and child development. In some cases, women’s experiences were marked by stress and depression, linked to financial insecurity and debt. The research showed that children played a key role in sustaining their mothers in work by taking on household chores, managing their own care and, in some cases, the care of younger siblings.