Prompt processing of payments to providers delivering New Deal/Private Sector Led New Deal/Provider Led Pathways and Phase 1 of ESF

The Payment Teams are committed to clear all accurate claims promptly. To that end, we have been reviewing our current payment processes.

Historically, it has been the custom for the Payment Teams to contact you in the attempt to resolve any queries or errors, such as conflicting or missing start/end dates on provision, before removing unresolved items from the claim. This practice is over and above our required payment processes and the time spent in doing this can lead to delays in us making payments to you.

We are no longer in a position to sustain the resource it takes to undertake this additional process and you will therefore not continue to receive these queries from the Payment Teams.

With immediate effect, claims submitted for payment will be processed and paid on the basis of information that can be validated without seeking further clarification i.e. based on both the evidence and information within the claim and the data Jobcentre Plus has entered on the Labour Market System (LMS).

Any items which cannot be validated will be removed from the claim and the remaining balance paid. You will continue to be advised of the removed items, together with the reason it has been removed. You will be able to re-submit these items on a later claim once you have resolved the query.

Please note, the 10% evidence check for Provider Led Pathways (PLP) or ESF claims remains unchanged. PLP and ESF contract holders are still required to submit evidence within 5 days of it being requested.