JCP Incentives

missmontana

Just thought this would be useful info for people...


1. Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF) Available solely at the discretion of JCP adviser
• Customers must be receipt of in Job Seekers Allowance, A Primary Benefit such as Income Support or Incapacity Benefit or Pension Credit for 6 months or over
Customers eligible for support are:
• New Deal programmes, Lone Parents, Disabled people and partners, Bereavement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, Carers Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance and NDF* To overcome small challenges that are preventing them from moving into work, where no other option is available. Customers can access up to a maximum of £300.00 in a twelve month period to support them in obtaining a job and accepting a job offer.

2. Access to Work
• Customers must be employed, self-employed or have a job to start
• Have a disability which effects the job
• Disability is likely to last for 12 months or more
• For any job, Part- time, Full time, Temporary or permanent, or work trials. Practical support to overcome work related obstacles from disability. There is an employer cost share involved in some cases.
Note:
If new job 100% funding
Existing job employer pays first £300
(ATW funds up to 80% of remainder)

3. Child Benefit CHB is payable to someone who is:
• Responsible for a child living with them
• Contributing towards the child’s support at a rate of not less than the weekly rate of Child Benefit payable for the child.
The child should be:
• Under the age of 16; or
• Under the age of 20 and receiving full time education CHB should be claimed as soon as the child is born.
Maybe claimed by someone coming to GB, but certain conditions about residence and presence must be met
Note:
Not payable in certain circumstances e.g. child detained in legal custody

4. Childcare Affordability Programme Parents who want to start a course, start a job (or looking for one), increase working hours and volunteer
• Parents must be claiming all the public funds they are entitled to
• Single parents must have been to their local Job Centre Plus and seen a lone parent advisor
The CAP 2 is a pilot scheme running until spring 2011. Its aim is to help parents who want to go training or start work but cannot afford registered childcare. It will pay up to £41 per day (or a maximum of £205 per week) per child for children 0 – 14 years of age (up to 16 years of age for children with special needs).


5. Childcare Assist The lone parent or partner can access Childcare Assist from day 1 of participating on NDLP or NDP if:
• They have a firm offer of a job to start of at least 8 hours per week. This must include written confirmation of the start date from the employer;
• They have a child(ren) who would need to be cared for while the parent is working Childcare Assist offers assistance with childcare expenses to participants on: New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP); or New Deal for Partners (NDP).
Childcare Assist allows customer to claim up to 5 days childcare in the 7 days immediately before they start work.

6. Childcare Subsidy Payable to Lone parents getting in Income Support and participating in NDLP
The job must be:
• Undertaken on the recommendation of the PA and considered suitable
• Up to 16 hours a week and expected to last at least 5 weeks
• Waged employment or self employment
• UK based and subject to UK regulations The subsidy supports the cost of childcare for Lone Parents, or partners starting approved and agreed part-time work of up to 16 hrs per week
Payable for a maximum period of 52 weeks.
Payment details (up to a maximum) of
• £87.50 PW for one child
• £150.00 PW for two children or more

7. Child Tax Credit Applicants must:
• Supports families with children.
• Can claim CTC if they are responsible for at least one child or young person.
• Do not have to be working to claim.
CTC is paid on top of Child Benefit and any WTC applicant may receive Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit help to support families with children and working people on low incomes. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) pay these credits. Jobcentre Plus staff can help customers to make a claim for Tax Credits


8. Council Tax Benefit There are two kinds of CTB:

• Main CTB – is an income related benefit to help people on low incomes pay their CT.
• Second Adult Rebate – can reduce CT liability by up to 25% for people who share their home with others on a low income. Applications should be made to the Local Authority

9. Criminal Records Bureau Check New Deal participants –
• Young people, 25 and 50 plus partners, disabled people, lone parents and including customers who are participating in the New Deal for Families opportunity Financial assistance via a voucher to support customers in returning to work.

10. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Run On JSA/IS customer:
• Must have been in continuous receipt of benefit for at least 26 weeks immediately before starting work.
• Be moving in to employment which takes them off benefit.
• The work is expected to last 5 weeks or more Provides an additional 4 weeks payment towards rent/council tax for customers when they cease claming benefit and start work.
There is no need to claim the run on it will automatically be paid if entitlement conditions are met.
Payment is made by the local authority and the council must be informed within 4 weeks of taking up employment.

11. In Work Advisory Support (IWAS)
Available to Lone Parents who:
• Have a dependant child(ren) under the age of 16 living in their household
• Are working 16 hours or more per week
• Have been in work for less that 26 weeks
• Been in receipt of a qualifying benefit for 26 weeks or more prior to starting work IWAS is intended to assist lone parents with their transition in to work and career progression once in work.
Lone parents will be able to access adviser support and guidance for 1 hour per month during their initial 26 weeks of employment

12. In Work Credit
• Dependent child in household (less than 16 years old at time of IWC application)
• Parent been in receipt of a qualifying benefit for the previous 52 weeks(JSA,IS,IB/SDA or CA)
• Moving into work of a minimum of 16 hours per week (24 hours if partner of benefit recipient)
• Not currently in receipt of Return to Work Credit A weekly non taxable payment of £60.00 per week in London and £40.00 outside London
Paid if customer signs off benefit when commencing work and payable for 52 weeks providing the customer remains in work and stays off benefit.

13 .In Work Emergency Fund (Part of New Deal for Lone Parents) The lone parent must be:
• Working 16 hours or more
• Been in work for a period of 26 weeks or less from the day work commenced
• Be working in a job which is expected to last at least 26 weeks
• Have dependent child(ren) under the age of 16 living in the household
Additionally the Lone parent should at the point of starting work have been an NDLP participant or been in continuous receipt of one or more eligible benefits(includes IS and JSA) A discretionary payment designed to help lone parents remain in work by helping them meet the costs of unforeseen emergencies for the first 26 weeks of employment after being a New Deal/ New Deal for Lone Parent participant or being in receipt of one of the qualifying benefit for 26 weeks.

14. Job Grant
To be eligible the jobseeker must:
• Have been in receipt of benefits for over 6 months
• Customer or partner must be moving directly from benefit into paid work of at least 16 hours per week (or 24 hours per week in the case of the partner.) This can be a new job, increase in hours of an existing job or a combination of jobs.
• Employment is expected to last 5 weeks or more
• Also applies to customers who become self-employed and to people taking up New Deal or Employment Zone options where they receive a wage. Job Grant is a work related payment that aims to bridge the gap between a customer’s final payment of benefit and first receipt of wages. Those eligible will be entitled to a non-taxable payment of £100 for single people and couples without children and £250 for all lone parents and couples with children. Customers may only receive one Job Grant within a 52-week period.
Job Grant is automatically payable when the customer returns the ES40 with all information correctly completed.

15. Job Introduction Scheme
• Is available to disabled customers who are moving towards open employment.
• Do not need to be in receipt of any benefits to be eligible.
• Job can be full time or part time
• Job must be expected to last at least six month

The scheme is for use at the discretion of the Jobcentre Plus personnel. Employer grant of up to £75 p wk for 6 weeks.
It cannot be used in Government Dept, supported employment or New Deal subsidised job.


16. Mortgage Interest Run-On
To be entitled, the customer must:
• Be starting paid work of 16 hours or more a week or claiming for a partner starting paid work of 24 hours or more a week; and
• The work is expected to last 5 weeks or more; and
• Have been in receipt of JSA(IB)/IS or a combination for 26 weeks or more without a break; or
• Be a member of a couple, in receipt of JSA(IB)/IS or a combination for 26 weeks or more without a break, as a couple; and
• Have been entitled to mortgage interest payments before the paid work started. An incentive aimed at helping people make the transition from benefit to work.
Those who satisfy the qualifying conditions will receive a run-on, for a period of 4 weeks, of the mortgage interest/housing costs elements of JSA. The MIRO payment for the run-on period is paid as IS.
A customer is not required to make a claim for MIRO. Where possible, payment will be made automatically as long as the relevant information is received when the customer starts work.

17. Options & Choice Events Open to Lone Parents
Events are voluntary work focused group sessions that aim to improve employability and support the introduction of LP obligations

18. Programme Centres
Customers aged 25+ (eligible at 18+ if on New Deal YP, NDLP or NDP caseload) .Entry at 6 months unemployed
Most participants need to be claiming one of the following benefits:
• JSA
• Automatic credits
• Incapacity Benefits
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Income Support
• Maternity Benefit
• Invalid Care Allowance
• Widow/ers Benefit Customers who are referred to programme centres should either be employer ready or with additional support from the programme centre will become employer ready. Support includes individually tailored job search help. Use of PC, photocopier, telephones, stationery, stamps and publication relevant to job search. Member of staff to support and encourage effective job search.

19. Reduced Fares Scheme (Mayor)
• From Jan 2009 only customers in receipt of IS will be able to apply
• From April 2009 extended to customers in receipt of JSA, ESA Scheme allows Londoners to pay half price pay-as-you-go Oyster single fares on buses & trams & to buy Bus & Tram pass season tickets at half the adult rate.

20. Reduced Rail Fares Scheme
Must be participating in New Deal for Lone parents, disabled, 50+, young people and 25 plus participants
Gives participants access to reduced rail fares – limitation apply.
In London this scheme is extended to London underground and transport for London buses


21. Travel to Interview Scheme (TIS)
Must be unemployed and claiming (directly or indirectly) one of the following:
• JSA
• NI Credits Income Support
• JC+ / New Deal Training Allowance
• Some 16-18 year olds, registered with the Careers Office or in receipt of Bridging Allowance or on a WBYT scheme.
Job interview confirmed by employer and must be for a specific post where current recruitment is taking place. Aims to encourage unemployed people to consider jobs outside their area by providing help with travel cost to attend interviews
Applications must be made in advance and details need to be confirmed with the employer.

22. Up front Childcare costs
• Must be a lone parent with a dependant child (ren) aged 16 or under in their household
• Lone parent must be resident in the areas covered by the London districts of Jobcentre Plus(excluding Employment Zone Locations) at the time of moving into work
• Been in Receipt of IS or JSA for at least 26 weeks continuously
• Be participating in NDLP
• Moving into employment of at least 16 hours per week and the job must be expected to last at least 3 months
• Claim must be made prior to actually starting work This is two year pilot in the six Jobcentre Plus London Districts- until 2010. It will help Lone Parents make the transition from benefits into work.
The types of costs that may be paid are:
Registration fees – may also be known as administration fees;
Advance payments of fees (of up to 4 weeks payments); and
Deposits (where applicable - up to 4 weeks payments).

23. Work Preparation
• Be on the Disability Employment Adviser or caseload, regardless of employment or benefit status.
• Have a defined job goal.
• Have disability-related needs in making a final choice of occupation, looking for work effectively or keeping or developing at work.
• Be likely to be capable of working or undertaking training by the end of the programme. This is a personal development programme, dealing with motivation and self esteem problems. Work placement provides work place assessment of up to 6 weeks. One-to-one guidance to deal with individual problems. ‘In-house’ assessment in sheltered environment


24. Work Trials

Designed for people who have the motivation to work but are often sifted out before interviews, or who do not perform well in interviews.
Customers must be:
• Aged 25 or over. There is no upper age limit.
HOWEVER, customers aged 18-24 may be eligible if they:
• Are on an 18-24 New Deal caseload AND at District Manager’s discretion;
• Are on a New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) or New Deal for Partners (NDP) caseload;
• They are a disabled customer;
• They have been referred at the discretion of an Adviser; A trial period in an actual job. Can last up to 15 working days during which time the customer will remain on benefits. Both the Employer and the Jobseeker take part in a work trial without obligation – it is an opportunity to “try before you buy”.

25. Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• For people working on a low income (employed or self employed.)
• Available to single customers as well as couples and families.
• There are extra amounts available for working households in which someone has a disability or childcare costs.
• Where someone incurs the costs of qualifying childcare they may be able to get 80% of childcare costs paid up to certain maximums when they use registered approved childcare.
• If responsible for a child or young person they can claim WTC
• If aged 16 or over and work at least 16 hours per week. If they don’t have children, they can claim WTC if: -aged 25 or over and work at least 30 hours per week If 16 or over and work at least 16 hours a week and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job
• If they or their partner are aged 50 or over and work at least 16 hours per week and are returning to work after claiming qualifying out-of-work benefits. WTC is a payment to top up the earnings of working people on low incomes, including those who do not have children. There are extra amounts for working households in which someone has a disability. Available to employees and self employed and includes support for the cost of childcare.

Note:
WTC is paid in addition to any Child Tax Credit. The amount will be based on circumstances



26. Workstep
If the person is disabled as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and the disability means the individual faces significant barriers to working and other forms of support, such as adjustments by the employer or help from Access to Work, have been considered and will not help the individual to work effectively without further support.
Individuals may only enter Workstep, if they have first been confirmed as eligible by a Disability Employment Advisor (or authorised provider).
Customer must be in receipt of:
• Incapacity Benefit and / or National Insurance credits only (including Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support) or
• Jobseekers Allowance and / or National Insurance credits only for 6 months or more, or
• Jobseekers Allowance and / or National Insurance credits for less than 6 months but on Incapacity Benefit immediately before claiming JSA.
OR be:
• A former supported employee who has progressed but needs to return to the programme within 2 years or has left for other reasons and returns within a year and requires further support in order to take up another mainstream job, or
• Currently in work but at serious risk of losing the job as a result of disability, even after the employer has made all reasonable adjustments and considered other available support options, or
• A recent / prospective education leaver who has demonstrated a need for support in work. Support in work to enable customer to overcome difficulties and progress to unsupported employment, e.g.:
• Job coach
• Access to learning &/or development
• Some providers give employers financial support


This is for guidance only and eligibility to any particular incentive can only be determined with the support of your Jobcentre Plus Advisers.