If you are receiving Job Seekers Allowance or getting Employment and Support Allowance and are in the work-related activity group, then after a period of time, if you still have not found employment, you will be entered onto the Work Programme.
If you’re getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, you may have to take part in the Work Programme after:
- nine months - if you’re aged 18 to 24
- 12 months - if you’re 25 or over
You may join the Work Programme earlier, if both you and your Jobcentre Plus adviser agree.
If you’re getting Employment and Support Allowance and are in the work-related activity group there are rules about taking part in the Work Programme. You may have to take part from three months before the date your doctor expects you to be fit for work.
There are some exceptions to this, like:
- if you’re a full-time carer
- if you’re a lone parent with a child under five
The Work Programme is delivered for Jobcentre Plus by specialist organisations, called ‘providers’.
Your provider will give you all the support you need to find and stay in work, even if:
- you change benefits
- you get a job
The Work Programme may include you taking part in activities to help you find work like:
- work experience
- training and further support
The support you get will be tailored to your individual needs and circumstances. Your involvement in the Work Programme will last up to two years.
A Jobcentre Plus adviser will explain:
- what to expect when you join the Work Programme
- what will happen when you start