Working Benefits: going back to work doesn’t mean giving up all benefits
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be paid to people who are working and earning. And there are other benefits and credits to help them with the move back into work, and support them as they continue working.
DWP has developed a presentation and a range of other resources to help improve your knowledge and pass it on to your customers.
Working Benefits workshop and other resources
In June and July 2010, 2,500 partners from Jobcentre Plus, local authorities, housing associations, and welfare advice providers took part in 59 workshops around Great Britain. The workshops helped delegates to improve their knowledge and their confidence in advising customers about the support that can help them go back to work.
You can now deliver your own using a presentation and other resources we have developed.
This is what your colleagues said about the workshops:
- "Useful if you work with a broad client base, or those who are long-term unemployed, to challenge misconceptions."
Employment Worker, Re'New, Huddersfield - "It was useful to gain knowledge on the benefits available. I am an adviser and this learning will enhance my understanding of in work benefits."
Senior Carers rights officer, Newham Carers Network, London
Real life story
Ripa is a Candidate Administrator for Workplace, an initiative run by London Borough of Newham, which gives local residents employment advice and guidance. Read about her story of getting into work.
Spread the word about back-to-work and in-work benefits
We want you to take action, and help ensure your colleagues and customers know about the benefits unemployed people can get when they go back to work. Here are some of the ideas from the workshops, to get you started.
- "Promote improved claims processing to customers to remove this barrier to work." – Oxford
- "Run in-work benefit awareness sessions for customers." – Liverpool
- "Include ‘Benefits of working’ customer leaflets in new tenants’ Welcome Pack." – Waverley
- "Promote Benefits Adviser in Job Clubs." – Blackpool
- "Put a link on our computer in reception to the Directgov website." – Islington
- "Advertise the financial support that is available on starting work on our Housing Benefit web page." – Swansea
Working in partnership
Local partnerships between local authority Housing Benefit teams, housing associations, the tax credit office, Jobcentre Plus and other welfare advice providers are key to helping customers back into work. You could:
- arrange visits or job shadowing
- link up your campaigns and share promotional materials
- spread the word about Working Benefits and direct colleagues and partners to this web page
- discuss joint working opportunities with your local Jobcentre Plus Office.
Help your customers find out more about in-work benefits
There are a number of pages on Directgov where your customers can find out more.
- Benefits Adviser (Directgov) – direct your customers to the Benefits Adviser to get benefit advice, an estimate of the amount they may get, and to find out how changing their circumstances affects their benefits, for example if they start work.
- Benefits and help when going back to work (Directgov) – helpful information for customers.
- Housing Benefit (Directgov) – who can and can’t claim.
- Council Tax Benefit (Directgov) – who can and can’t claim.
Your feedback
Please tell us what you are doing in your area to promote Working Benefits.
Email enquirieshrad@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.
