Schemes for getting people in IB back into work

saxonrosecliff

Hi I'm currently on Incapacity Benefit and I would like to try and get back into work. To start off with I live alone but I am not sure if I would be able to manage a full-time job but am willing to try.

I have tried today to ring jobcentreplus to find out about any schemes that are available to help me. I have been unemployed for 7 years and so I am finding returning to work quite stressful in itself. I have spent today trying to ring jobcentreplus to find out about schemes but as usual there is no answer from the Incapacity Benefit section. I have looked on the jobcentreplus website and found out a bit about New Deal. They have listed on the website three organisations that run New Deal in my area, however one appears to have closed down, one doesn't take part in New Deal any more and the other has had an answering machine on all day! I am now starting to wonder if its worth the bother!!!

So can anyone help with any advice about return to work schemes and who runs them - New Deal is the only one I have hard of but I still don't know much about it. Thanks for reading

dmg24

Hi saxonrosecliff,

There is a scheme called Pathways to Work, which is there to help people in your situation. If you call your local Jobcentre, they will be able to either refer you or tell you how to contact them directly (it is possible to self refer). Alternatively, if the agencies cover your area, they may advertise in your local paper (look out for WorkDirections and A4E - Action for Employment).

If you have no luck, if you let us know where you are we can have a look for you.

Good luck! x

saxonrosecliff

I live in Leicester. I understand from jobcentreplus website that Pathways to Work is only available in certain areas, is this correct? As I said in my original post the New Deal information on the website is out of date!

I think I might visit jobcentreplus in person tomorrow if I can't get through today on the telephone.

healy

Pathways to Work rolled out to the whole Country as from April so it is no longer in certain areas only.

saxonrosecliff

I've learnt more from this website in less than an hour that I did after 1 1/2 hours on jobcentreplus website! I'd never hard of Pathways to Work before today. I found it on their website but it says certain areas only and Leicester isn't one of them. I'm giving up for today and I will go down to their office tomorrow to see if I can get an appointment to speak to someone.

Something has occurred to me though - after my last medical (January) I was only given 6 months extension rather than the usual 12 months. Could it be that when I am due for my next medical they would have put me on this scheme anyway?

Thanks a million for all your help it is much appreciated.

dmg24

From what I can tell, Working Links was awarded the contract for Leicestershire. Their telephone number is 0116 2517939.

Let us know how you get on x

dmg24

saxonrosecliff wrote: »

I've learnt more from this website in less than an hour that I did after 1 1/2 hours on jobcentreplus website! I'd never hard of Pathways to Work before today. I found it on their website but it says certain areas only and Leicester isn't one of them. I'm giving up for today and I will go down to their office tomorrow to see if I can get an appointment to speak to someone.

Something has occurred to me though - after my last medical (January) I was only given 6 months extension rather than the usual 12 months. Could it be that when I am due for my next medical they would have put me on this scheme anyway?

Thanks a million for all your help it is much appreciated.

Sounds like the DWP haven't updated their website - no surprise there! x

healy

saxonrosecliff wrote: »

I've learnt more from this website in less than an hour that I did after 1 1/2 hours on jobcentreplus website! I'd never hard of Pathways to Work before today. I found it on their website but it says certain areas only and Leicester isn't one of them. I'm giving up for today and I will go down to their office tomorrow to see if I can get an appointment to speak to someone.

Something has occurred to me though - after my last medical (January) I was only given 6 months extension rather than the usual 12 months. Could it be that when I am due for my next medical they would have put me on this scheme anyway?

Thanks a million for all your help it is much appreciated.

I think if you pass your next medical you will then be called into the Jobcentre for a work focused interview.