Help with moving from benefits to work
1. Overview
Get support from Jobcentre Plus to help you prepare for, find and stay in work, including:
- training, guidance and work placement programmes
- work experience, volunteering and job trialling schemes
- help with starting your own business
- help combining work with looking after children or caring responsibilities
- extra help for specific problems
You may also be able to keep getting some benefits once you start working.
Support for disabled people
Speak to a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre Plus. They can help you find a job or gain new skills, and tell you about specific programmes to help you back into work.
2. Job search programmes
Your Jobcentre Plus adviser can give you more information about programmes that can help you prepare for, find and stay in work.
Work Programme
This provides support, work experience and training for up to 2 years to help people find and stay in work.
You might have to join the Work Programme if:
- you’ve been getting Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 3 months
- you get Employment and Support Allowance and you’re in the Work-Related Activity Group.
Jobcentre Plus will write and ask you to attend an interview.
You’ll have to attend an assessment interview with Jobcentre Plus if you’re still on the Work Programme after 2 years . The interview will help you plan, prepare and find work.
Youth Contract
If you’re 18 to 24 you can get extra help under the Youth Contract, including voluntary work placements, apprenticeships and careers guidance.
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.
They’re available to people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance (if you’re in the Work-Related Activity Group).
Work Clubs
Anyone who’s unemployed can join a Work Club. They’re 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 volunteering
Contact Jobcentre Plus to find out about opportunities that can improve your chances of finding work, including work experience, volunteering and work trials.
You might be able to get help with costs like childcare and travel.
Work experience
If you’re 16 to 24 and you’re getting Jobseeker's Allowance, you can get a work experience opportunity through Jobcentre Plus.
They can last between 2 and 8 weeks, and you’ll normally be expected to work between 25 and 30 hours a week.
You may also be able to get help from Jobcentre Plus for costs related to work experience, eg for:
- travel
- childcare
Work Together (volunteering)
If you’re unemployed and looking for work, you can volunteer with a local organisation through the Work Together programme. Your Jobcentre Plus adviser will help you to find a volunteering opportunity.
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 won’t be affected if you finish early or turn down a job you’re 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 Jobseeker's Allowance again without this affecting your benefit (unless you’re 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 your own business
Your Jobcentre Plus adviser can tell you about help you can get to start up your own business.
New Enterprise Allowance
You may be able to apply for New Enterprise Allowance if you can show that you have a business idea that could work. You need to be getting one of the following benefits:
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support (if you’re a lone parent)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - if you're in the Work-Related Activity Group
You’ll be given a business mentor, who will provide advice and support on:
- becoming self-employed
- setting up your business and starting to trade
Once you’ve made a business plan and it’s been approved, you can get:
- a weekly allowance worth up to £1,274 over 26 weeks
- a loan to help with start-up costs
You can get extra support through an Access to Work grant if you have a disability, health or mental health condition and you’re getting New Enterprise Allowance.
Enterprise Clubs
Anyone who's unemployed can join an Enterprise Club. You'll be able to share experiences and get help from other people who want to become self-employed, as well as local business people and advisers.
5. Help for parents and carers
Your Jobcentre Plus adviser 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 for specific problems
Extra help is available from the European Social Fund, as well as your local Jobcentre Plus.
Families with multiple problems
Families who need extra help may be able to get support from the European Social Fund. You may be able to apply if you have several problems that have stopped you finding work, including:
- nobody working or a history of unemployment in the family
- problems with drugs or alcohol
- parenting or financial management skills
- anti-social behaviour
- health conditions
Contact your local provider for more information.
Download 'European Social Fund Support - provider contacts' (PDF, 43KB)
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 adviser 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 doesn't mean giving up all your benefits. Some benefits may carry on, and others may be available once you’re working.
Contact Jobcentre Plus if you’ve found a job and you or your partner have been getting:
Your Jobcentre Plus adviser 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 don’t 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.