Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) back to work schemes
Back to work programmes to help Universal Credit and JSA claimants move nearer to, or into, work.
Types of schemes
Back to work schemes aim to develop your skills and experience, and help you find work. Your work coach will know what type of support each scheme includes and whether it could help you move from benefits to work.
Your work coach may refer you to one or more of these schemes:
- training or other help to gain new skills
- work experience
- work trials
- Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs): training and work experience for particular industries or areas of work
- Restart Scheme: regular and tailored one-to-one support
Training or other help to gain new skills
Your work coach will check the skills you have. If you do not have the type of skills employers are looking for, you may be offered support to improve your skills.
You may be asked to:
- meet with a careers adviser to discuss your skills and job aims
- meet with a training provider, such as at a college, to discuss training
- complete a training course
A careers adviser will help you think about:
- what type of jobs you might like to do
- the skills you have
- how training may improve your chances of finding work or a better paid job
A training provider will assess:
- your English, maths, and information and computer technology (ICT) skills
- your spoken language skills, if English is not your first language
- any job-specific skills or qualifications you have
- other skills from previous jobs or work experience
How long training courses last
How much time you spend training will depend on the type of course and the help you need to improve your skills.
Training for specific jobs, such as customer service, usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks. Training to improve your English, maths or ICT skills will usually be longer. Your work coach will explain what the course involves and when you need to attend.
You may need to attend the appointment and complete the recommended training
If your work coach sends you to meet a careers adviser or a training provider, you may need to attend the appointment.
Your benefit may be sanctioned if you fail to attend, without good reason:
- an appointment with a careers adviser or a training provider
- training courses recommended by your work coach
You may still need to go to jobcentre meetings and look for work
If being on training will stop you going to jobcentre meetings or doing other things set out in your claimant commitment, you must contact your work coach in advance.
What happens if you get a job
You must tell us if you find paid work.
If you get Universal Credit and find paid work you may:
- still be able to claim Universal Credit
- no longer have to attend jobcentre meetings
Work experience
If you have little or no work history, work experience can help you:
- gain many of the skills employers need
- add experience to your CV and job application forms
- show potential employers that you can work in a professional environment like theirs
- get a reference for a job application
Although most useful for young claimants, work experience placements are open to suitable and eligible claimants of all ages.
Work experience also helps you to:
- improve your job prospects
- see what skills and behaviours employers want from people
- see how your skills fit into the workplace
- build your confidence
- show an employer the skills that you have
What being on work experience involves
This will vary. Some examples include working in an office, warehouse, retail store or restaurant. Work experience placements are run by employers known as ‘host employers’.
The host employer will explain your duties.
They could include things like:
- customer service
- stock management
- administrative duties
You’ll need to meet the same standards of behaviour as other people you’ll be working with, for example:
- attendance
- timekeeping
- personal hygiene and appearance
- following all health and safety rules given to you by the host employer
How long work experience lasts
Work experience lasts for 2 to 8 weeks. You’ll normally be expected to attend for 25 to 30 hours a week.
If the host employer offers you an apprenticeship (a paid job with training), and you accept, you can do up to 4 extra weeks of work experience while the paperwork for your apprenticeship is completed. You’ll keep getting benefit until your apprenticeship starts.
When you can take part
You can take part in work experience placements as soon as your Universal Credit or JSA claim is accepted.
How to get a work experience opportunity
You may find an opportunity yourself or your work coach will find a placement.
If you find an opportunity yourself, let your work coach know. They can ensure the employer is suitable and is offering a quality work experience opportunity.
Depending on the employer you may have to apply for work experience. This might mean completing an application form or attending an informal interview. This will help you to build up your job application skills.
Your work coach will ask you to sign a data consent form, so they can share your information with the host employer.
Work experience placements are voluntary
Deciding to accept the offer of a work experience placement is voluntary. Once you’ve agreed to attend the work experience placement, it is in your best interest to attend and participate, but it is not something you’re required to do.
If you decide not to take up or complete work experience, your benefit will not be reduced.
If you’re offered a job, you may need to accept it
If you’re offered a job during or following your work experience, your work coach is likely to encourage you to accept it, and you will usually need to accept it. If this happens and you do not accept the job, without good reason, your benefit could be sanctioned.
You may still need to go to jobcentre meetings and look for work
If being on the work experience placement will stop you going to jobcentre meetings or doing other things set out in your claimant commitment, you must contact your work coach in advance.
What happens if you get a job
You must tell your work coach if you find paid work.
If you get Universal Credit and find paid work you may:
- still be able to claim Universal Credit
- no longer have to attend jobcentre meetings
Work trials
Work trials are a trial period for an actual job. They are a great way for you and the employer to see if the job is a good fit, before you start.
You’ll keep getting your benefit and will not be paid a wage while you are on the trial.
During the trial, you’re the only person being considered for the vacancy. This means that the job is yours if both you and the employer are satisfied following the trial period.
The employer must have an actual vacancy that they are looking to fill. The vacancy must:
- last for 16 hours a week or more
- be expected to last at least 13 weeks
- be based in the UK
How long work trials last
You decide the length of each work trial with the employer. The initial trial period should just be for a few days. If you and the employer agree, this can then be reviewed and extended.
In exceptional circumstances, a trial can last up to 30 working days, over a period of no more than 6 weeks.
Work trials are voluntary
Participation in a work trial is voluntary. However, you should take advantage of this opportunity to overcome any doubts you or the employer might have.
You do not have to accept the offer of a job after the trial
Work trials are designed to help you make the correct decision in accepting a job. If you’re offered the job or an apprenticeship during or following the work trial, you decide whether you want to accept it or not. You do not need to accept it as part of your benefit claim.
You must still meet the requirements in your claimant commitment
While on work trial you must still meet the requirements set out in your claimant commitment, including attending meetings with your work coach.
If you feel your work trial will stop you doing the things set out in your claimant commitment, you must contact your work coach in advance.
Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs)
SWAPs give you training and work experience for particular industries or areas of work. They are available in England and Scotland.
They help develop the skills and behaviours employers are looking for in new employees. They are designed to help you build confidence in a way that improves your job prospects and will add to your CV. At the end, you’ll either get a job interview or help with the employer’s application process.
Employers use the SWAPs scheme to help recruit into job sectors with a high demand for staff. So, the type of SWAP on offer near you will vary.
How long SWAPs last
SWAPs last up to 6 weeks.
When you can take part
If you’re interested in starting a SWAP, speak to your work coach. They will discuss the kind of opportunities available in your local area and if they are suitable for you.
If you accept the SWAP offer, you must attend
Deciding to accept the offer of a SWAP is voluntary. But once you have agreed to start, you may be required to complete the pre-employment training and attend the guaranteed job interview (if included). Your claimant commitment will be updated if this applies to you.
If you do not complete the parts of the SWAP you’re required to do without good reason, your benefit could be sanctioned.
SWAPs also include work experience. This is not something you must do, but it is in your interest to do so. Work experience is invaluable and allows both you and the host employer to see whether you’re suited to the type of work on offer.
Your benefit will not be sanctioned if you decide not to take up the work experience placement.
You may need to accept the job offered following a guaranteed interview
If you’re offered a job or an apprenticeship following the SWAP guaranteed interview, your work coach may require you to accept it. If you do not accept the job that’s offered to you, without good reason, your benefit could be sanctioned.
You may still need to go to jobcentre meetings and look for work
If being on the SWAP will stop you going to jobcentre meetings or doing other things set out in your claimant commitment, you must contact your work coach in advance.
What happens if you get a job
You must tell us if you find paid work.
If you get Universal Credit and find paid work you may:
- still be able to claim Universal Credit
- no longer have to attend jobcentre meetings
Restart Scheme
The Restart Scheme gives regular and tailored one-to-one support to develop your employability skills and move you closer to, and into, work. It’s available in England and Wales.
You’ll usually be referred by your work coach.
When you can take part
You’re usually eligible to join the Restart Scheme in the following situations:
- you’ve received Universal Credit for at least 6 months
- you’ve received income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least 6 months
- you were claiming New Style JSA immediately before claiming Universal Credit, and the total time claiming New Style JSA and Universal Credit adds up to more than 6 months
How long the Restart Scheme lasts
Support lasts for up to 12 months, or until you find work, or your personal circumstances change.
If you stop claiming Universal Credit or JSA, you’re still eligible to continue on the Restart Scheme. But taking part in the scheme is voluntary.
What will happen during the Restart Scheme
You’ll work with your Restart Scheme job coach throughout your journey back into employment.
Restart Scheme participants will get:
- a skills assessment
- a tailored action plan
- fortnightly sessions with a caseworker
- access to a wide variety of support such as job-specific training, employability skills and interview practice
- work opportunities
If your work coach has referred you to the Restart Scheme, you must attend
You must attend work coach appointments about the Restart Scheme. Once you’ve begun the Restart Scheme, you must take part in all sessions and activities.
If you do not complete the parts of the Restart Scheme you’re required to do, without good reason, your benefit could be sanctioned.
You must still meet the requirements in your claimant commitment
While on the Restart Scheme you must meet the requirements set out in your claimant commitment, including attending regular meetings with your work coach.
If you feel taking part in the Restart Scheme will stop you doing the things set out in your claimant commitment, you must contact your work coach in advance.
Help with costs
While you’re taking part in a back to work scheme, you may need to pay for:
- travel to the employer’s place of work or to where the training is held
- childcare
- smart clothing for interviews or to start work
You might be able to get help to pay for these if the costs are a barrier to you achieving the goals in your claimant commitment.
If you’re taking part in the following schemes, your work coach will tell you if you qualify for help with costs and how you apply:
- training or other help to get more skills
- SWAPs
- work experience
- work trials
During your time on the Restart Scheme, the scheme provider should provide funding for travel, childcare, and other expenses to help you take part and get back into work.
You’ll need to pay for meals bought while you take part in any back to work scheme.
Sanctions
Your claimant commitment sets out what you’re expected to do to keep receiving your benefit. It includes what you need to do to keep in contact with your work coach and the things you must do to prepare for and look for work.
You may be expected to take part in the schemes in this guide.
If you do not take part in an employment scheme when your work coach tells you to, without good reason, your benefit payments could be reduced. This is known as a sanction.
If you’re asked to leave a scheme because of gross misconduct, such as stealing, violence or verbal abuse your benefit payments could be sanctioned.
Find out more about sanctions:
Other back to work support
Your work coach can discuss other local support available through your jobcentre, for example:
- apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study
- Skills Bootcamps help you develop new skills that employers are looking for
- ReAct+ offers tailored support if you’re over 20, have been made redundant and live in Wales
Job search and careers advice websites
Skills for Careers
Skills for Careers has career ideas and training you can do at your own pace.
jobhelp
jobhelp has support to help you get job ready, advice on looking for jobs, help with CVs, applications and interview support. It includes links to some national recruitment schemes and help if you’re under 25 years old and looking for work.
Careers Wales
Careers Wales lists the popular job search websites in Wales and has advice on getting a job.
My World of Work, Scotland
My World of Work has information and support on jobs, careers and training.