Scottish Careers Week puts spotlight on Job Start Payments

Young people in Scotland, who may be eligible for a benefit worth hundreds of pounds to help them with the cost of starting a new job, are being urged to apply during Scottish Careers Week.

Organised by Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Careers Week (11 – 15 November), highlights the support that is available to people looking for work.

Job Start Payment is an important part of that support. It’s a one-off payment of £314.45 that young people who meet certain eligibility criteria are entitled to.

If the young person has a child, or are a child’s main carer, they could get £503.10.

Job Start Payments can be used to pay the bills that crop up before that all important first pay day. Things like travelling to work, child-care costs, paying for lunches or buying new clothes.

These costs can be a real barrier to people who are starting a new job after being unemployed for a while.

We’re keen to spread the word about Job Start Payment to eligible young people. We have produced a huge range of shareable media content for employers and stakeholders to use including; social media content, flyers, posters and factsheets in many languages.

Job Start Payment is available to people between 16 and 24, who have been out of paid work and on a low-income benefit for six months before finding a job.

The relevant benefits are:

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit

Care leavers can apply for Job Start Payment even if they haven’t been out of paid work for six months. They are also eligible for a year longer – until their 26th birthday.

People can apply for the payment for up to six months after the date of the job offer. The job must average 12 hours or more a week over a four-week period. It doesn’t need to be a permanent job.

We need to see a confirmation of the job offer. This can be a text message, a letter or an email from the employer.