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Your local Jobcentre can give you advice whether you are looking for your first job, another job after becoming unemployed, or are returning to work. It can also offer advice on careers direction and training to improve your qualifications.

Jobcentres also provide a range of programmes and services designed to help you to find work. For example, you may be offered the opportunity to join a Jobclub or Job Interview Guarantee or get help with the cost of travel to job interviews under the Travel to Interview Scheme.

There are a number of benefits and programmes which can help you get a job and keep it. For example, when you work, Family Credit can top up your pay if you have children. Disability Working Allowance may be available for people with disabilities.

An Employment Service Adviser can tell you how to make sure your claim is handled quickly.

Back to Work Bonus

The Back to Work Bonus scheme is available to people who have been entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support for 91 days or more and are working part-time while claiming benefit.

If, following the 91 day period, your Jobseeker's Allowance has been reduced because you or your partner have earnings from part-time work, the scheme will help you to build up a bonus equal to half those weekly part-time earnings after the appropriate disregard has been deducted.

This cash sum may be available to you when your Jobseeker's Allowance ceases because of the work you do, or your partner does, or because of the amount of money either of you earn. The bonus is a tax free lump sum and can be up to a maximum of £1,000.

Ask your Employment Service Adviser if you think you may be eligible for the Back to Work Bonus.

Employment on Trial

Employment on Trial gives people who have been out of work the opportunity to try out a job without being penalised if they leave.

To qualify for Employment on Trial you:

• must not have worked during any of the 13 weeks before the day on which the job started. You must not be a full-time student or in relevant education at any time during this period
• must stay in the job for at least four weeks, but no more than 12 weeks starting with the week in which the work began. The work must be for at least 16 hours a week.

If you are interested in finding out more about Employment on Trial, ask at your Jobcentre.

If you are in a job and would like to know more about Employment on Trial, do not leave your job until you have asked the Jobcentre how this may affect your Jobseeker's Allowance.

Employer's National Insurance Contribution Holiday

If you have been out of work for at least two years, your new employer may be able to apply for an Employer's National Insurance Contribution Holiday when you start work.

They will be able to apply to recover their share of the National Insurance Contribution for a specified period. Your share of the National Insurance Contribution will be paid so that your National Insurance record is kept up to date.

Ask an Employment Service Adviser for details of this incentive for employers.

Further information

For more information on the range of help you might get, leaflet WWB11 ("Back to Work Benefits") is available from Jobcentres, Social Security offices and Post Offices. To find out about the range of employment and training programmes available, pick up a "Just the Job" leaflet (JTJ1) from any Jobcentre.