Getting help with drug problems that prevent you working

If you are using the drugs heroin or crack cocaine, but you are not receiving treatment for drug problems, Jobcentre Plus can help. Speak to your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser who can refer you for help from a specialist drug treatment professional.

Who can use this service?

This service is for people who receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, and who have a dependency on heroin or crack cocaine that affects them finding or keeping work.

Your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser can help you access the support you need to help you overcome your dependency on drugs, so that you can benefit from being in work.

The support available includes:

• an initial appointment at a local drug treatment service to discuss the help available to you
• if you wish, referral to a drug treatment programme
• ongoing employment and training support from Jobcentre Plus

How the service works

If your drug dependency is a barrier to you seeking, gaining or staying in work, discuss this with your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser.

Your personal adviser will be able to arrange an appointment for you at a local drug treatment service. You will have a discussion with a drug treatment professional who will talk to you about the different ways to overcome your drug dependency and the range of treatment options available to you.

Deciding on the best support for you may take more than one visit to the local drug treatment service. It may be that you will continue to be seen at the same place, or that it would be better for you to go to a different service which is more suited to your personal circumstances.

You can decide if you want to take part in a drug treatment programme. If you do, you will agree with your drug treatment professional the different types of treatment you will need and the things you need help with. You should expect your treatment programme to last for at least three months, as this is the minimum amount of time needed for the treatment to help you.

Everything will be kept confidential and no information about your discussion or treatment will be disclosed to anyone else, even to Jobcentre Plus, unless you give your permission for the information to be shared.

Support from your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser

While you are receiving treatment, your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser will still be there to support you with any extra help you may need in relation to finding a job, gaining new skills and accessing training.

This referral service into drug treatment is currently for heroin or crack cocaine users who receive Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance. If you receive other benefits, such as Income Support or Incapacity Benefit, or would like help with other drugs, such as cannabis or amphetamines, please speak to your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser. They can provide advice about the support that may be available to you. Jobcentre Plus can also provide help for people who are already recovering from misusing drugs. This service is called progress2work and it can give you the extra support you need to get back into work.

Find your local Jobcentre Plus office

Progress2work

Please read ‘Getting help with drug or alcohol problems and getting clinical waste collected’ on the Directgov website if you are not currently receiving benefits but would like help with drug problems.

Getting help with drug or alcohol problems and getting clinical waste collected (Directgov)

Jobseeker's Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance