Recruitment grant to help returns to work
Social Security have introduced a Recruitment Grant to help people get back to work after long periods of unemployment or sickness.
The Grant is to support employers who recruit people who have been on unemployment or incapacity benefits for over 6 months. Social Security recognise that additional support may be needed for people returning after a long time off work. The grant will assist employers during the early stages of employment.
The grants range between £1,300 and £2,500 in total, depending on the hours being worked. Payment is in 3 stages. The first payment is after 4 weeks of employment, the second after 12 weeks and the third after 26 weeks. The payment after 4 weeks also includes an optional Training Element. To claim the training element employers will have to provide some extra information on the nature of training being given.
'Helping people get back to work after being on benefit is really important to us' says Deputy Mark Dorey, Social Security Minister. 'The recruitment grant is the latest in a number of initiatives that we have introduced in recent years. We believe that relatively small payments to ease the transition back to work will produce much larger savings in ongoing benefit costs, and be to the wellbeing of the individuals concerned.'
Employers may obtain a claim pack or any further information by either contacting Social Security on 732500 and asking to speak to a member of the Work Rehabilitation team, or contacting Neil Stevenson on 732462.
The Recruitment Grant is included in a new leaflet for employers titled 'Job Centre Services and Work Rehabilitation', which is available from Social Security and also appears on the website.