Pathways to Work has been developed to provide greater support to help people claiming incapacity benefits back into or closer to the labour market.

Pathways to Work started in October 2003 and from 29 December 2006 is available in further offices.

List of Jobcentre Plus offices where Pathways to Work is available.

Everyone making a new or repeat claim for either Incapacity Benefit, Income Support on the grounds of Incapacity, Income support whilst appealing against a decision that Incapacity Benefit is not payable, or Severe Disablement Allowance at one of the listed offices will automatically be part of Pathways to Work.

New customers taking part in Pathways to Work attend an initial work focused interview with a trained personal adviser. Most will then go on to attend another 5 work focused interviews with the same adviser at monthly intervals. During the interviews the adviser will help the customer to identify future life and work goals and any barriers to achieving them, and will support the customer in overcoming those barriers. An action plan will be agreed detailing the activities the customer has identified to undertake, and this will be reviewed at each meeting.

In addition the customer has access to existing Jobcentre Plus support - such as New Deal for Disabled People - plus some extra support developed specially for Pathways to Work.

The Condition Management Programme (CMP) is an innovative new programme delivered in partnership with the NHS. CMP is designed to help people understand and manage their health condition in a work environment.

Return to Work Credit is a payment of £40 a week for people starting work of at least 16 hours a week and earning no more than £15,000 per year. Anyone wishing to apply has to have been receiving an incapacity benefit (including statutory sick pay) for 13 weeks immediately prior to starting work. It is payable for up to 52 weeks.

Anyone wishing to apply for either the Condition Management Programme (CMP) or Return to Work Credit has to be  claiming at a Pathways to Work office and should apply through their personal adviser.

Since February 2005 some people already receiving Incapacity Benefit, SDA or Income Support on health grounds from offices in Bridgend, Rhondda, Cynon & Taff, Derbyshire, East Lancashire, Gateshead & South Tyneside, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll & Bute and Somerset will also be contacted to have an interview with a personal adviser.

Anyone else receiving  any of the above incapacity benefits from any of the listed offices can volunteer to take part by contacting Jobcentre Plus.

Pathways to Work is showing very positive and successful outcomes. To-date, over 25,000 people have been helped into work. Building on this success, Jobcentre Plus will expand Pathways to Work coverage to 40% of the UK by December 2006.

If you are unsure whether or not your office is a Pathways to Work office please contact Jobcentre Plus.