Pathways to Work

Pathways to Work helps people to get work if they are receiving Employment and Support Allowance or an incapacity benefit because of a health condition or disability. The help is tailored specifically for each person taking part in the programme.

About Pathways to Work

Pathways to Work is a programme run by Jobcentre Plus to help people who are claiming Employment and Support Allowance or incapacity benefits to get work.

You will be expected to take steps to find work or prepare for work unless you have a health condition or disability that severely affects your ability to do so. As well as help from Jobcentre Plus, you may get extra support from one of its partner organisations from the private and voluntary sectors. Those organisations are called 'providers'.

You may be entitled to extra money when you start or stay in work.

Who is eligible

If you are aged between 18 and 60 and make a claim for Employment and Support Allowance or incapacity benefits, you will automatically be considered for Pathways to Work. This applies if you are claiming for the first time, or are claiming again after a break in receiving benefit.

Incapacity benefits include:

• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support on the grounds of incapacity
• Income Support while you are appealing against a decision that you are not incapable of work
• Severe Disablement Allowance

Even if you are not automatically considered, you can still apply for help from Pathways to Work if you are entitled to certain benefits because of your health condition or a disability.

How it works

The service offers individual support and access to a wide range of help.

Work-focused interviews

In the first seven months of your claim, you will usually be invited to six work-focused interviews.

Your interviews will be with a personal adviser who will:

• help you to remain focused on your ability to work
• help you develop a personal action plan to help you get the job you want
• discuss work opportunities with you
• explain the support that may be available to address key health and non-health related obstacles - for example, managing debt
• tell you about any financial benefits you may be entitled to once you start work
• work out how much better off financially you would be in work

Attending and taking part in the interviews is a condition for receiving the full amount of benefit.

The Condition Management Programme

The Condition Management Programme can help you better understand and manage your condition or disability. It uses the principles and approach of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The programme does not replicate current NHS treatment. Health professionals deliver the programme and tailor it to meet your needs.

In the Jobcentre Plus-led version of Pathways to Work, the Condition Management Programme is run for Jobcentre Plus by the NHS and the Department of Health.

Provider-led Pathways to Work has a similar Condition Management Programme. It is either delivered by the provider or by another specialist.

Please see below for further information about Jobcentre Plus-led and provider-led Pathways to Work.

Return to Work Credit

Return to Work Credit is a tax-free payment of £40 per week. It can be payable for up to 52 weeks as long as:

• your job is expected to last at least five weeks
• you are working on average over 16 hours a week
• you are earning no more than £15,000, before tax, per year
• you are earning at least the National Minimum Wage
• you have been getting an incapacity benefit for 13 continuous weeks or more

Jobcentre Plus-led and provider-led Pathways to Work

Pathways to Work is delivered by Jobcentre Plus in 18 districts. In the remaining Jobcentre Plus districts, Pathways to Work is delivered by organisations from the private and voluntary sectors. The organisations that carry out the programme are called 'providers'.

Jobcentre Plus-led Pathways to Work

Jobcentre Plus advisers conduct all the mandatory interviews. Your adviser can use a package of employment, training and rehabilitation programmes to provide tailor-made support for you. This package, known as 'Choices', includes the Condition Management Programme and Return to Work Credit, along with access to other Jobcentre Plus programmes.

Provider-led Pathways to Work

A Jobcentre Plus adviser carries out the first interview. Local providers conduct the remaining five mandatory work focused interviews, and offer support to get you back into work.

Any support you are offered will be tailor-made for you and includes a Condition Management Programme and access to Return to Work Credit.

 Choices leaflet (138.52kb)

 Pathways to Work (38.37kb)

 Pathways to Work - Large Print (39.41kb)