New Deal and Training for Work

Training has a lot to offer, including the chance to get the skills and qualifications that will help you to get and keep a job, and put you in a better position for promotion or a career move.

Noted below are details of two Government training schemes: New Deal and Training for Work.

New Deal

New Deal is part of the Government’s Welfare to Work strategy. It is a programme that gives people who are on benefits support to look for work, including training and preparing for work. There are different types of New Deal programme for:

• young people (18 to 24)
• people aged 25 plus
• people aged 50 plus
• disabled people
• lone parents
• partners of unemployed people
• musicians.

What is available under New Deal varies from area to area, so the information given below is general. For details of what is available in your area, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

New Deal for young people (18-24)

If you are aged 18 to 24, and you’ve been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for six months or more (including those getting National Insurance credits only), you must join the New Deal for young people programme. Some people can join sooner - ask at your Jobcentre Plus office.

You will be seen by a personal adviser who will be your main contact throughout the programme. They will help you to consider the options open to you, and to draw up an action plan that will set out the steps you need to take to help you back into work.

The programme starts with up to 16 weeks of individual help, known as the ‘gateway’ period. During this time you have access to a range of services and opportunities to help you to decide what type of work you want to do, and to find a suitable job. This can include independent career advice, as well as help with basic skills (like reading and writing) if you need it. 

If you don’t find a job during the four month 'gateway' period, you are offered further help to meet your needs. This is called 'options', lasts for at least 13 weeks and might include:

• work experience with an employer or voluntary organisation
• training for a specific job
• courses to develop skills that employers want
• practical help with applying for jobs

• interview practice.

If you still have not managed to find a job, the final stage of the programme is called 'follow-through'. This stage can last for up to 26 weeks and will give you extra help and support in looking for work.

New Deal for people aged 25 plus (over 25 and under State Pension age)

If you are aged 25 and over and under State Pension age (currently 60 for women and 65 for men) and you have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for 18 months or more you must join New Deal for 25 plus. Some people can join sooner if they want to.

New Deal 25 plus begins with a 'gateway' period of up to 16 weeks, where the provision and level of help will be tailored to your individual needs by a personal adviser. This may include careers advice, developing an action plan to help you find work, help with completing application forms and writing a CV and paying for some of your costs, such as bus or train fares. 

If you don't manage to get a job during this first stage, you would move into the second stage. This is called the 'intensive activity period' and will last a minimum of 13 weeks. This period  will often consist of flexible and individually tailored packages of support which might include:

• work experience with an employer or voluntary organisation
• training for a specific job
• courses to help you get the skills that employers want
• practical help with applying for jobs 
• interview practice 

The 'intensive activity period' can include self-employment support or provision based on skills needs or other severe needs.

If you don't get a job by the end of the 'intensitive activity period', you will join 'follow-through' which could last between 6 and 13 weeks. Your personal adviser will help you try to find a job and you may have to take short courses to give you more skills.

New Deal 50 plus

Are you aged 50 or over? Have you been claiming any of the following benefits for at least 6 months - Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Credit ? If so, and you want to find work, then you can join New Deal 50 plus.

The programme may also be open to you if you’ve been getting Carer's Allowance, Bereavement Allowance or National Insurance credits for at least 26 weeks. If your partner has been getting increased benefits for you for over 26 weeks you may also be able to join.

New Deal 50 plus offers:

• in-depth guidance and counselling from a New Deal personal adviser
• an action plan to help you to get a job
• help for those who may wish to start their own business
• a top up of working tax credit
• in work training grants of up to £1,500
• voluntary work which may develop employable skills
• help with travel expenses for interviews.

The 50 plus element of Working Tax Credit has replaced the Employment Credit formerly available under New Deal for 50 plus.

New Deal for disabled people

If you get disability or health related benefits and want to work but need some support  the New Deal for disabled people could help you.

The programme offers a Job Broker service, where independent providers will help you to find and keep a job. The Job Broker will seek to:

• understand your situation including any barriers to working such as mobility or lack of confidence and try to help you with these 
• discover what kind of work you want to do
• give you advice about the local labour market  
• identify if you have training needs and work with local training providers to give you extra support 
• give you advice on job search, vacancies and preparation for work
• support you, by coaching you and monitoring your progress, for up to six months after you start work.
  

You can get more information about New Deal for disabled people from your local Jobcentre Plus office and from trhe website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/. You can also visit http://www.jobbrokersearch.gov.uk/ to find out about the Job Brokers in your area.

New Deal for lone parents

If you have at least one child under 16 years of age, and you are a lone parent working for less than sixteen hours a week, you might be interested in finding work through the New Deal for lone parents.

Through the programme you will have a series of interviews with a Personal Adviser who will help you to:

• draw up a personal action plan to help you get back to work
• look for suitable job vacancies
• claim childcare and travel expenses for attending interviews
• update your job search skills
• work out what benefits you will be entitled to if you find work, and how to apply for them
• find training to update your skills
• get help with some of the costs for training
• find and organise registered childcare
• get early entry to Jobcentre Plus programmes such as programme centres, work trials and Training for Work

New Deal for partners

New Deal for partners is available to partners of people claiming any of the following benefits : Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Carer’s Allowance,  Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Credit. You can also join if your partner gets Pension Credit and you are working less than 24 hours a week, or if you or your partner gets Working Tax Credit and you are working less than 16 hours a week.

You will be given a personal adviser who will help you to:

• work out what you need to earn, and what in-work benefits you can claim, to make sure that you will be better off
• find information on work, training and other learning opportunities
• find suitable registered childcare (if you need it)
• find and keep a job
• access Jobcentre Plus programmes such as programme centres, work trials, and Training for Work
• pay for childcare costs for taking part in certain types of training while still unemployed, travel expenses to interviews and training.

New Deal for musicians

If you are serious about a career in music, you may be able to get help from New Deal for musicians. It can help musicians and composers get into careers in a wide variety of music.

New Deal for musicians has the full support of the music industry. It can give you the chance to speak to people in the industry who can provide sound advice and also provide support in using music industry open-learning materials.

To take part in New Deal for musicians, you must be taking part in either New Deal for young people or New Deal for people aged 25 plus, and be at the end of the 'gateway' stage.

More information

Further information on New Deal can be obtained from your local Jobcentre Plus office. Information is also available on the Jobcentre Plus website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/  

Training for Work is a training programme for unemployed adults who are 18 and over, and have been registered unemployed for six months or more in the last year. However, there are exceptions to this. Your local Jobcentre Plus office can provide full details.

The programme gives you the chance to improve your work-related skills by taking part in appropriate training and work experience. You may even get help to start up your own business.

During your time on the programme, you will get a training allowance equivalent to your current benefits plus £10 per week. You may also get help with travelling and childcare costs.

For further information on Training for Work, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.