The Job Start Payment is a payment for people who normally live in Scotland, to help with the costs of starting a new job.
Who can get a Job Start Payment?
Someone can apply for a Job Start Payment if they:
- are aged 16 or over and under 25, or under 26 if they are a care leaver (ie formally looked after by the local authority at or beyond their 16th birthday in a foster, residential, secure or formal kinship care placement); and
- they have received a job offer for a job which will average 12 hours or more a week over a 4 week period; and
- they normally live in Scotland on the day of the job offer (the job doesn’t have to be in Scotland – they can be moving out of Scotland for the job and still qualify for the Job Start Payment); and
- they have been out of paid work and on a qualifying benefit (see below) for at least six months. Care leavers just have to be out of work and on a qualifying benefit at the time of the job offer; and
- they claim within three months of receiving the job offer.
What is a ‘qualifying benefit’?
A ‘qualifying benefit’ means:
- Universal Credit
- Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
How much is the Job Start Payment?
If the application for the Job Start Payment is successful, it is a one-off payment of £314.45, or £503.10 if the applicant is the main carer of a dependent child / children.
How to apply for the Job Start Payment
Applications can be made online or by post - see here for details.
How often can someone get a Job Start Payment?
Job Start Payments can only be made once every 2 years. Therefore, someone can only get another Job Start Payment if it has been more than two years since they last received one.
More info on mygov.scot here.