Job Start Payment
Social Security Scotland
Employment Support - Job Start Payment
The Job Start Payment is a new payment to help 16 – 24 year olds in Scotland who need support with the costs of starting a new job. It’s a one off payment of £250, or £400 if the young person has a child. This money can be spent on anything for starting work like clothing, travel costs or lunches.
The young person must live in Scotland at the time of the job offer and have been out of paid work and in receipt of a qualifying benefit for 6 months or more to be eligible for Job Start Payment.
Qualifying benefits are:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit (UC)
The job offer must be for at least 12 hours on average per week, over a four week period. Evidence of the job offer will be requested as part of the application, and his can be in the form of a text message, a letter or an email from their new employer. Photocopies and screenshots of the job offer will also be accepted.
The applicant can either post the physical evidence to us or upload a digital version.
Care leavers in Scotland have a wider eligibility to apply for this payment. They must be between the age of 16 to 25 years old, only need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit at the point of the job offer, and not for the full 6 months before applying. A young person is a care leaver if they have spent time in care but stopped being looked after on, or after their 16th birthday. This could have been either a foster, residential, secure or formal kinship care placement.
Find Out More About The Job Start Payment
If you're eligible, you can apply online by visiting the Job Start Payment webpage call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to apply over the phone or request a paper form.
