For immediate release:

NEW SUPPORT TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE INTO WORK

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has welcomed a new Scottish benefit introduced this month that will help 16 to 24-year olds into work if they have been unemployed for over six months.

The Scottish Government’s Job Start Payment is a one-off grant of £250 to help with the costs of starting a new job.

The upper age limit rises to 25 for care leavers, and the payment rises to £400 if the person has a child.

To qualify for the payment, a person must be 16-24 years old and have received a job offer for paid employment. The job must average 12 hours per week, over a 4-week period, and it does not need to be permanent.

The person must be out of paid work and in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits: Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit for six months or more at the time of the job offer.

It is estimated that around 5,000 young people across Scotland will benefit from this new financial support in its first year.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“The job prospects of young people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang have been hit hard by this pandemic.

“Therefore, this announcement of extra support to help our young people into work really couldn’t come at a better time.

“This payment will help local people with the extra expenses that are often attached to starting a new job, such as travel costs, new work clothes, or even childcare.

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to check and apply online through mygov.scot or by calling 0800 182 2222.”

ENDS

Notes:

The payment will be delivered by Social Security Scotland.

If they are a care leaver, they can access this support up to 25 years of age. They also just need to be on a qualifying benefit when they get the job offer, they don’t need to have been in receipt of this benefit for a set time period.

Date published: 27th August 2020