Help with moving from benefits to work

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1. Overview

Get support from Jobcentre Plus to help you prepare for, find and stay in work, including:

You may also be able to keep getting some benefits once you start working.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Support for disabled people

Speak to your local Jobcentre Plus if you바카라 사이트檙e disabled or have a long-term health condition. They can help you find a job or gain new skills, and tell you about specific programmes to help you back into work.

You might be able to get an Access to Work grant to pay for:

  • special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings
  • help getting to and from work
  • mental health support
  • communication support at a job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker)

2. Job search and training

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can give you information about training and help you prepare for, find and stay in work.

Help for specific types of work

Sector-based work academies offer training and work experience for up to 6 weeks in a particular industry or area of work.

Most academies also offer a guaranteed interview for a job or an apprenticeship.

They바카라 사이트檙e available to you if you바카라 사이트檙e claiming any of the following because you바카라 사이트檙e unemployed:

Work clubs

Anyone who바카라 사이트檚 unemployed can join a Work Club. They바카라 사이트檙e run by local organisations like employers and community groups, and give you the chance to share knowledge, experience and job hunting tips.

3. Work experience and trials

Contact Jobcentre Plus to find out about opportunities that can improve your chances of finding work, including work experience and work trials.

You might be able to get help with costs like childcare and travel.

Work experience

If you바카라 사이트檙e getting Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance (JSA) or Universal Credit, you can get work experience through Jobcentre Plus.

Work experience can last between 2 and 8 weeks, and you바카라 사이트檒l normally be expected to work between 25 and 30 hours a week. You바카라 사이트檒l carry on getting your JSA or Universal Credit payment as long as you continue to look for work.

You may also be able to get help from Jobcentre Plus for costs related to work experience, for example for travel or childcare.

Work trials

A work trial gives you the chance to try out a job and keep getting benefits. It can last up to 30 working days, and you might get offered a job at the end.

Work trials are voluntary, and your benefits will not be affected if you finish early or turn down a job you바카라 사이트檙e offered.

Your Jobcentre Plus can arrange a work trial for you, or you can ask them about how to do this yourself.

Employment on Trial

Employment on Trial allows you to leave a job and start claiming Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance (JSA) again without this affecting your benefit (unless you바카라 사이트檙e sacked or leave because of misconduct).

You must have worked more than 16 hours a week for between 4 and 12 weeks before leaving the job.

4. Starting or running your own business

You can get help to:

  • start your own business
  • develop your business, if you바카라 사이트檙e already self-employed

You can get help from:

If you get Universal Credit

You might be able to get a 12 month 바카라 사이트榮tart up period바카라 사이트� if you바카라 사이트檙e self-employed.

During a start up period, no matter how much you earn:

  • your Universal Credit payments are based on your monthly earnings
  • you do not need to look for other work
  • you바카라 사이트檒l get support from a work coach who바카라 사이트檚 trained to work with the self-employed

Your current work coach can tell you if you바카라 사이트檙e eligible.

Read more about claiming Universal Credit when you바카라 사이트檙e self-employed.

If you already have a business that바카라 사이트檚 less than 3 years old

You might be able to get a Start Up Loan.

If you바카라 사이트檙e disabled or you have a health condition

You may be able to get extra support through an Access to Work grant.

5. Help for parents and carers

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can tell you about support you can get to help you combine work with looking after children or caring responsibilities.

Help for parents

Parents can get help with childcare costs when moving from benefits to work.

Help for carers

Work Preparation Support for Carers provides help and support for you to make a successful move into work, including access to training and advice on job hunting and applications.

You might be able to get help with the cost of replacement care while you take part in training or attend interviews.

6. Help with drug and alcohol problems

You may be able to get extra support if you have drug or alcohol problems that are stopping you working.

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can tell you about the help available from specialist drugs or alcohol treatment professionals in your area, and refer you to their services if you want.

This help is available to anyone getting benefits.

7. Support when you start working

Going back to work does not mean giving up all your benefits. Some benefits may carry on, and others may be available once you바카라 사이트檙e working.

Contact Jobcentre Plus if you바카라 사이트檝e found a job and you or your partner have been getting:

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach will help you to manage your move into work, and sort out changes to your other benefits, including tax credits. What you can get will depend on how long you were claiming these benefits without a break.

You do not have to fill in any forms, but make sure you have details of your income, savings and any rent payments to hand.

Use a benefits calculator to see how starting a job or increasing your working hours affects your benefits.

Help with housing

Depending on how long you have been claiming benefits, you may be able to get:

These payments provide help for up to 4 weeks when you start a new job and begin earning a wage. You may also be able to get extended reductions on your Council Tax.

If you바카라 사이트檙e disabled or you have a health condition

You may be able to get extra support through an Access to Work grant.