Benefits and Grants For Job seekers
The UK Government has a number of benefits and grants that are designed to help you find work if you are currently unemployed. Although only a tiny 7% of people in the UK think that unemployment is a vital issue that needs to be faced, those who are seeking work know the importance of claiming what you are entitled to in order to make ends meet.
The Jobseeker’s AllowanceThe
Job Seeker Allowance is a weekly payment that helps to support you while you are looking for work. More than 860,000 people currently
claim this benefit. It is the most common benefit, but there are others that may be of interest.
The Job GrantWhen you are successful and find a new position, you may find that although your Jobseeker’s Allowance stops, you could receive a one off payment called a
Job Grant. This is free of any tax implications and helps to get you started in your new job, before your first wage slip comes through.
Housing BenefitIf you are earning very little or you are looking for work, you can apply for help in paying your rent using
Housing Benefit. It makes sense to apply for as many benefits as you think you are entitled to, as it will help to tide you over until you find a new job.
New Deal opportunitiesNot all benefits are monetary ones. The Government’s
New Deal Scheme has helped 250,000 young people alone find new jobs. Businesses are paid to provide work placements to people which run for a specific length of time. Although the employee will get paid for the work they do, they will also learn valuable new skills, which can then be transferred to other companies if they are not kept on by the company taking part in the scheme.
Income SupportThis may be relevant to you if you cannot work full time for a particular reason. The rules which govern all benefits can be complex; your local
Job Centre should be able to give you an idea of whether your specific circumstances will make you eligible.
Everyone’s situation is different.
Searching for a new job when you are out of work is always a stressful experience, as you want to do well and make a good impression. The less you need to worry about money in the meantime, the better, so make sure you find out which benefits apply to you – and make sure you claim them.
