Money Jobs

 - Perhaps you are unable to find someone to look after the children, or you can't find  a job that will allow you to pick them up from school.

 - Maybe you are worried about returning to work, lacking confidence or think you need to polish up on your skills to get the job you want.

Your personal adviser will look at things like:

• Work experience (any jobs you have had)
• What skills you already have
• Any training or qualifications you hold
• Education or training opportunities you would like to take up
• Any help you might need, for example with child care or health care
• Special help if you have a health condition.

Your personal adviser will also be able to work out if you will be financially better off in work. They will look at your personal circumstances and how much benefit you may get. They will then look at the kind of job you might get, how much the job would pay and any extra support Jobcentre Plus may be able to give while you are in work.

Is it compulsory?
No, it’s voluntary and one of the great things about the job is that we are always dealing with people who want to work and so are generally very positive. As Personal Advisers we are here to provide as much or as little help and support as is needed to get a single parent back into work.

How does New Deal help single parents?
We recognise that everyone is in a different situation so anyone joining the programme gets a trained Personal Adviser who will be with the single parent throughout their time on New Deal and get to know them well, so they can find out what sort of job they might like and what their strengths are. This helps them to find a job that suits. We can also offer support to single parents, even after they have started work, to make sure their new job runs as smoothly as possible.

Will the single parent be better off when they find work?
Many single parents worry about losing out financially when they go to work. One of the first things we do is work out how much better off they would be in a job and explain which benefits they would still be entitled to once they’re in work. 

The range of support available once they are in work includes:

• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax benefit
• Help with NHS charges

What if the single parent has been out of work for a while and feels that they’d like to refresh their skills?
We talk through this with them when they first visit and help them find the training they need. There’s a wide range of training opportunities available, from courses designed to teach new skills to refreshers to update existing skills. We can also help with interview techniques and confidence building.

Who can join New Deal for Lone Parents?
The programme is open to anyone bringing up children on their own who is not in work, or works less than 16 hours a week. Their youngest child must be under 16.

What about childcare? Lots of people can’t rely on friends and family to help out.
We will be able to offer advice on childcare available in the local area. New Deal for Lone Parents can also help towards the cost of registered childcare to cover you while you are on training courses, attending pre-arranged interviews or during your first weeks in work. Child Tax Credit may also be able to help towards the cost of childcare for those parents who work 16 hours a week or more.

Job hunting can be expensive, especially if single parents have to arrange transport to interviews. Is there any help available?
Yes, New Deal can often help to cover the expenses involved in job hunting. We talk through the options available with each customer.

Tax Credits telephone helpline
0845 300 3900 or Textphone 0845 300 3909 or visit the website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits

Worktrain
National jobs and learning website: www.worktrain.gov.uk