Statutory guidance

NEA phase 2 memo 19: Reminder of when to use an inappropriate referral to close a PRaP referral

Updated 13 January 2023

This statutory guidance was withdrawn on

This guidance is no longer in use. The COVID-19 New Enterprise Allowance Phase 2 scheme has completed, and the provider contract ended on 23rd October 2023.

Find other DWP provider guidance.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-enterprise-allowance-phase-2-provider-guidance/nea-phase-2-memo-18-reminder-of-when-to-use-an-inappropriate-referral-to-close-a-prap-referral

This memo is for New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) Providers.

Providers will need to close down a Provider Referrals and Payments (PRaP) referral to NEA for various reasons. Inappropriate referral should only be used in certain circumstances. If you think the referral is inappropriate you must contact your Single Point of Contact (SPoC) in the Jobcentre, who will decide if the referral is inappropriate or not.

You must not cancel or reject these referrals before speaking to the SPoC.

Please follow Annex 1 of provider guidance for full details. A1.01 – A1.04 are copied at the end of the memo for information.

Most closures are not to be classed as inappropriate, some of which are:

  • if you have a customer who decides they do not wish to participate in NEA, or did not want to be referred to NEA, this needs to be cancelled as Did Not Start in PRaP – see para 3.10 (COVID instruction section) of the provider guidance
  • if you cannot contact them via phone, text or e-mail this needs cancelling as Did Not Attend in PRaP – see para 4.04 of the provider guidance
  • if after talking to the customer, you decide NEA is unsuitable for the customer or business idea you will need to cancel as Did Not start in PRaP – see para 4.04 and para 7.15 of the provider guidance

Further information and contact details

If you have any queries about the NEA programme or this Live Running Memo, please consult your Performance Manager in the first instance.

If your enquiry is of a Commercial nature, or if you have any queries or concerns regarding Contract Variations or Letters of Change, please direct them to the Commercial Directorate email inbox: employmentcategory.covid19@dwp.gov.uk

Copy of Annex 1: Inappropriate Referrals

A1.01. Situations may arise where Jobcentre Plus (JCP) make a referral which is inappropriate. In these cases, and only these cases, there are processes to correct the error.

A1.02. When the error is discovered by JCP, they will telephone your nominated contact to advise you what has happened. Upon receipt of this telephone call, you should take no further action with the participant until further instruction from Jobcentre Plus.

A1.03. You should advise the PRaP Operational Support Team (POST) and each Jobcentre with whom you work of your nominated contact person for these occurrences as soon as possible.

A1.04. If you discover an error with the referral, you should immediately contact your Single Point of Contact (SPoC) at the Jobcentre concerned.

Note: You must not cancel or reject a referral before speaking to the SPoC as the decision as to whether the referral is incorrect lies with them.

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