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Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern England and
Help the Aged in England.
The new force combining &
Jobcentre Plus provides support for people on benefits to help them find suitable work.
If you are over 50 and have been on certain benefits, including Pension Credit, for at least six months, you may be eligible for extra support from a personal adviser under the New Deal 50 plus programme.
However, if you are on Pension Credit, this support may not be offered to you automatically because Pension Credit is administered by The Pension Service and they may assume you are not looking for work.
New Deal for Disabled People is a voluntary programme to help people receiving sickness and disability benefits.
The programme uses Job Brokers who are responsible for finding you paid work by matching you to employers’ vacancies. They will give advice and support and should continue to offer you support once you start a job.
Job Brokers are independent organisations such as charities or enterprise agencies. The services on offer vary, so ask about the local options and decide what is right for you.
Free training may be available through Jobcentre Plus, either as part of the New Deal or as a separate programme if you have been receiving a benefit for more than six months.
In some circumstances you will be eligible before you have been receiving benefits for six months, for example if you have problems with basic skills, are part of a large-scale redundancy or have been out of the labour market as a parent or carer.
Training is provided by independent training providers, on behalf of Jobcentre Plus. You can also sign up directly with a training provider, but Jobcentre Plus will still need to check you are eligible.
Some training is provided at Programme Centres which offer packages of support for up to three months. Each centre delivers a wide range of different options and your Jobcentre Plus Adviser will select a combination of options suited to your needs.
Some of the options will teach you techniques for getting a job, while others may focus on issues such as debt, disability or adult education.
Centres also have free facilities to help you look for work, such asphotocopiers, phones and stamps. While you are on a course you will be able to claim for travel expenses.
Contact your local Age Concern or Age UK to check what benefits you may be entitled to.
If you already receive benefits, ask at your local Jobcentre Plus to make sure you are receiving all the support you are entitled to with getting back into work (see pages 16–18).
Carol had been out of work for 12 months when she joined an Age Concern project for people over 50 looking to get into work:
‘I had applied for a number of jobs without getting anywhere and my confidence had taken a bit of a knock. I heard about the Age Concern project through a friend and luckily I was eligible to join.
I went on a number of courses, including an IT training course, and I got my ICT e-citizen Entry Level 3 Certificate. The project also put me in touch with my employer, who was looking to recruit older workers. What I had learnt gave me the confidence and skills I needed to get the job.
I’m now working as a customer adviser for a large retailer in IT. My employer really seems to value me and has given me lots of support and encouragement.’
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