This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) guidance'.

Post Work Programme Support (JSA claimants)  
Guidance Queries and Help 
1.  If you are unable to find an answer to a particular question regarding the 
policy within this guide you must contact the Jobcentre Plus Live Support 
Advice Line. Do not give the Advice Line number to claimants or outside 
bodies under any circumstances, it is for the use of Jobcentre Plus staff only. 
Details of how to contact them can be found on the DWP Advice Line Home 
Page. 
2.  Please do not use the ‘E-mail page owner’ and ‘Page information’ links at 
the bottom of each page of guidance to raise policy queries, these should only 
be used to report broken hypertext links. 
Implementation 
3.  Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) 
claimants is help and support, based on a claimant’s individual circumstances. 
It is not underpinned by specific PWPS legislation; everything delivered 
through PWPS is delivered under existing legislation. 
4.  PWPS applies to those claiming JSA at the point their Work Programme 
(WP) participation ends and to those off benefit when their time on WP ends 
who subsequently claim JSA within 12 weeks of their WP end date.   
5.  For those claiming JSA when WP participation ends, a nominated contact 
in each District Office will receive a LMS MIS report 10 working days before 
the due completion date and, following locally agreed protocols, ensure: 
  The Work Programme Exit Report guidance is followed.  
  A Work Programme Completer Interview (WPCI) is booked. This 
interview must be conducted within 15 working days of the claimant’s 
WP completion date and must allow the provider at least 10 working 
days in which to return the claimant’s Exit Report. Booking the WPCI 
will generate an invitation letter which must be issued to the claimant.  
6.  Joint claim couples completing WP must be treated as individuals for 
labour market purposes; accordingly, each will have a WPCI and be assigned 
to the PWPS routeway most appropriate to their individual circumstances. 
7.  JSA credit only claimants completing WP should be booked to attend a 
mandatory WPCI. 
8.  Regards those off benefit when WP participation ends and who 
subsequently make a new claim to JSA within 12 weeks of their WP end date, 
Advisory Teams must have robust systems in place to identify these claimants 
and assign them to the appropriate PWPS routeway. 
9.  In such cases, it is for Districts / offices to determine if the New Jobseeker 
Interview (NJI) should double as the WPCI or if a separate WPCI is required; 
if a separate WPCI is required this must be conducted within 3 working days 
of the NJI. 
10.  Those who reclaim 12 weeks or more after their WP end date will not be 
assigned to PWPS.   
NB: If the NJI is conducted by an Assistant Adviser a separate WPCI must be 
booked with a Personal Adviser as the WPCI is a full diagnostic interview.  

Important note: WP completers must not be re-referred to the WP at any 
time or under any circumstances.  
Work Programme Completer Interview  
11. The Work Programme Completer Interview (WPCI) is a 40 minute full 
diagnostic interview which must be conducted on a face-to-face basis by a 
Personal Adviser. 
12. The primary purpose of the WPCI is to decide, based on information 
gathered and supported by the Work Programme Exit Report (where 
available), the appropriate routeway for the claimant during Post Work 
Programme Support (PWPS). 
Deciding between Jobcentre Plus Offer and Mandatory 
Intervention Regime 
13. PWPS claimants will be assigned to either the standard Jobcentre Plus 
Offer (JCP Offer) or a more intensive support process known as Mandatory 
Intervention Regime (MIR). That decision, based on the following general 
guidelines, rests with the adviser. 
14. Prior to the WPCI, a check of Labour Market System (LMS)  pilot markers 
should be made to identify claimants who have, for example, a benefit cap or 
troubled families marker set, so that the provision can be tailored around the 
support they are already receiving. 
15. During the diagnostic WPCI advisers should identify the particular barriers 
that have prevented the claimant from finding or keeping a job. Once 
identified advisers should refer to existing guidance that details how to 
address these barriers; for example, where a lack of skills is a barrier they 
should follow the skills guidance. This applies both to claimants allocated to 
the JCP Offer and to MIR. 
16. Assignment to the JCP Offer is recommended for those claimants who 
have: 
  recent, relevant work experience (paid, voluntary or a work placement) 
with which to populate their CV 
  demonstrated an ability to pro-actively seek employment 
 demonstrated work-related disciplines and behaviours 
  no significant challenges to overcome in securing employment. 
17. Assignment to MIR is recommended for those claimants who are less ‘job-
ready’ because they have multiple or more complex challenges to overcome 
and therefore need additional intensive support to enhance their prospects of 
securing sustainable employment. 
18. Subsequent actions taken by the adviser, during the WPCI, will depend on 
which routeway the claimant is assigned to. 
19. Claimants who have completed Work Programme (WP) early due to the 
provider claiming all the eligible payments should be placed on the JCP Offer 
(Business As Usual (BAU)) cohort. As they will have had recent sustained 
work experience they would not be suitable for MIR.  
Claimant assigned to JCP Offer 
20. The adviser must take the following steps: 

Step 
Action 

Explain to the claimant: 
  the support available to them through the standard JCP 
Offer 
  the conditionality and sanction regime. 
 
NB Due to the length of time spent on WP many claimants will 
be unfamiliar with the support available and conditionality / 
sanction regime attached to their claim; it is, therefore, 
imperative that comprehensive explanations are provided. 

Conduct skills screening and consider the need for a skills 
assessment. 

Update the claimant’s Jobseeker’s Agreement or, where roll-
out has occurred, draw-up a JSA Claimant Commitment. 
4 Update 
LMS: 
  select the PWPS pilot marker and set it to ‘JSA PWPS 
BAU’ (BAU = Business as Usual) 
  (if appropriate) arrange next adviser interview.  
  
Claimant assigned to MIR  
21. The adviser must take the following steps: 
Step 
Action 

Explain to the claimant: 
  the full range of support available to them within MIR. As 
MIR is delivered flexibly, ensure individual claimants are 
made aware of the support they can expect to receive 
from your office 
  the conditionality / sanction regime attached to their claim 
and participation in MIR 
  that MIR will last for at least 26 weeks. 
 
NB
 Due to the length of time spent on WP many claimants will 
be unfamiliar with the support available and conditionality / 
sanction regime attached to their claim; it is, therefore, 
imperative that comprehensive explanations are provided. 

Conduct skills screening and consider the need for a skills 
assessment. 

Update the claimant’s Jobseeker’s Agreement or, where roll-
out has occurred, draw-up a JSA Claimant Commitment. 
4 Update 
LMS: 
  select the PWPS pilot marker and set it to ‘JSA PWPS 
OCM’ (OCM = Ongoing Case Management) 
  arrange next adviser intervention in line with MIR 
expectations and taking into account local policies  
  set a workflow for 26 weeks to review if MIR remains 
appropriate, using standard text ‘MIR Review – do not 

delete workflow before (insert date workflow matures)’. 
Claimant fails to attend WPCI  
22. Before taking fail to attend (FTA) action, check the claimant hasn’t notified 
the department that they would not be attending. If they have, see the 
‘Claimant notifies JCP they will not be attending WPCI’ section of this 
guidance.   
23. Claimants who fail to attend the WPCI must be assigned to MIR. Take the 
following steps: 
Step 
Action 
1 Update 
LMS: 
  select the PWPS pilot marker and set it to ‘JSA PWPS 
OCM’ (OCM = Ongoing Case Management) 
  set a workflow for 24 weeks to review if MIR is still 
appropriate using standard text ‘MIR Review – do not 
delete workflow before (insert date workflow matures)’ 
 

Follow the normal FTA procedure and, if appropriate, DMA 
referral process*. If, subsequently, the claimant makes contact 
and the claim continues, a new adviser full diagnostic interview 
must be booked as a ‘Flexible Intervention’ (not a WPCI as the 
claimant has already been assigned to MIR) as soon as 
possible. At that interview update the claimant’s Jobseeker’s 
Agreement or, where roll-out has occurred, draw-up a JSA 
Claimant Commitment. 
 
*Reminder
 - there is a separate DMA process for credits only 
claimants  
 
Claimant notifies JCP they will not be attending WPCI  
24. If a claimant notifies you they are unable to attend the WPCI, follow 
‘Rearranging interviews’ guidance. 
25. If a claimant notifies you they will not be attending the WPCI because they 
are terminating their claim, take normal claim closure action and follow the 
Work Programme Exit Report, ‘Capturing Off Flow between initial contact 
script and Completer Interview’ guidance. If they reclaim JSA within 12 weeks 
of their WP end date, they will be assigned to the appropriate routeway; see 
‘New claim from person that ceased claiming between Work Programme end 
date and WPCI’. 
Delivering the Mandatory Intervention Regime  
26. Essentially, the Mandatory Intervention Regime (MIR) delivers all the 
employment measures available through the Jobcentre Plus Offer (JCP Offer) 
and, to supplement those, provides more intensive, personalised adviser 
support through increased interventions. The nature and frequency of these 
additional interventions is to be determined locally and on a case by case 
basis. 

27. Where possible the claimant should be assigned a designated Personal 
Adviser to ensure consistency and continuity of support. It is also 
recommended strongly that advisers delivering MIR adopt a Solution Focused 
approach (Solution Focused training is available through RM). 
28. MIR will continue for at least 26 weeks from the date of the Work 
Programme Completer Interview.  
29. MIR is delivered flexibly; as part of increased adviser interventions
activities could include: 
  Case conferencing with Work Psychologists 
  Targeted group sessions  
  SMART action planning and robust follow-up supported by Jobseeker’s 
Directions as appropriate 
  Mock interviews and/or application form completion 
  Strengthening the conditionality message 
  Rigorous skills assessment and measures to address gaps identified. 
NB: It is DWP policy that claimants are reimbursed travel expenses for 
interventions that take place on any day other than their usual signing day; 
reimbursement is not discretionary and is not dependant upon the claimant 
requesting it. See FSF ‘Making a payment’ guidance.  
30. Existing Labour Market System (LMS) interview types must be used to 
deliver MIR.     
31. Districts may also seek to deliver additional external support that targets 
MIR participants specifically; any such support will be on the District Provision 
Tool. 
After 26 weeks 
32. After 26 weeks in MIR, advisers must decide whether or not the intensive 
support it delivers is still necessary. If not, the claimant should be moved to 
the JCP Offer (see steps below); if MIR remains appropriate the claimant 
must be informed accordingly and their participation in MIR reviewed on a 
regular basis. 
33. When MIR is no longer considered appropriate, the following steps must 
be taken:  
Step 
Action 
1 Update 
LMS: 
  Select the PWPS pilot marker and set it to ‘JSA PWPS 
BAU’. 

If appropriate, book next adviser interview. 
 
12 week linking 
34.  A 12 week linking period has been introduced to the Post Work 
Programme Support (PWPS) process from 25/11/13. 
35.  PWPS participants who are subsequently off benefit for 12 weeks or more 
will not be assigned to PWPS if they reclaim.   
36.  A claimant off benefit when Work Programme (WP) participation ended 
will not be assigned to PWPS if they make a new JSA claim more than 12 
weeks after the WP end date. NB: this does not apply if they claimed 

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) between their WP end date and 
claim to JSA as they will be treated as a new claim made by an ESA Work 
Programme completer.  
37.  Information can be found within the appropriate sections in this guidance.   
New claim from person off benefit when Work Programme 
completed 
38.  New claimants are eligible for Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) if 
they make their claim within 12 weeks of their Work Programme end date, 
and must be assigned to the routeway most appropriate to their 
circumstances. 
39. It is for Districts / offices to determine if the New Jobseeker Interview (NJI) 
should double as the Work Programme Completer Interview (WPCI) or if a 
separate WPCI is required; if a separate WPCI is required this must be 
conducted within 3 working days of the NJI. 
NB If the NJI is conducted by an Assistant Adviser a separate WPCI must be 
booked with a Personal Adviser as the WPCI is a full diagnostic interview. 
40. Advisers must follow the steps set out in the Work Programme Completer 
Interview section of this guidance.  
41. New claimants who make a claim 12 weeks or more after their WP end 
date will not be assigned to PWPS. 
New claim from person that ceased claiming between Work 
Programme end date and WPCI  
42. Such claimants are eligible for Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) if 
they reclaim within 12 weeks of their Work Programme (WP) end date, and 
must be assigned to the routeway most appropriate to their circumstances. 
43. It is for Districts / offices to determine if the New Jobseeker Interview (NJI) 
should double as the Work Programme Completer Interview (WPCI) or if a 
separate WPCI is required; if a separate WPCI is required this must be 
conducted within 3 working days of the NJI 
NB If the NJI is conducted by an Assistant Adviser a separate WPCI must be 
booked with a Personal Adviser as the WPCI is a full diagnostic interview. 
44. Advisers must follow the steps set out in the Work Programme Completer 
Interview section of this guidance.  
45. New claimants who make a claim 12 weeks or more after their WP end 
date will not be assigned to PWPS. 
New claim made by an ESA Work Programme completer  
46. Upon completing Work Programme, joining Post Work Programme 
Support (PWPS) is mandatory for some Employment and Support Allowance 
(ESA) claimants and voluntary for others.  
47. Those who are required to join and those who volunteered to join will have 
had a Work Programme Completer Interview (WPCI) and hold a PWPS 
marker on their Labour Market System (LMS) record; those who chose not to 
join will not have had a WPCI or have a PWPS marker set. The action to take 
will depend on whether or not a PWPS marker is held. 

PWPS marker already set 
48. In this scenario the claimant should be allocated to the JSA PWPS 
routeway most appropriate to their circumstances. The allocation decision 
must be made by an adviser in either a New Jobseeker Interview (NJI) or 
Flexible Intervention (as the claimant has already had a WPCI under the ESA 
regime it would not be appropriate to record another).   
49. The PWPS pilot marker must be amended accordingly. See ‘Claimant 
assigned to JCP Offer’ or ‘Claimant assigned to MIR’ 
50. Any LMS workflows set must be reviewed and amended appropriately. If 
the claimant is allocated to JCP Offer no workflow is required. If the claimant 
is allocated to MIR set a workflow; see ‘Claimant assigned to MIR’.  
PWPS marker not set 
51. Such claimants must be allocated to the JSA PWPS routeway most 
appropriate to their circumstances.  The allocation decision must be made by 
an adviser during either the New Jobseeker Interview or in a WPCI (as the 
claimant has not had a WPCI under the ESA regime).  
52. It is for Districts / offices to determine if the NJI should double as the WPCI 
or if a separate WPCI is required; if a separate WPCI is required this must be 
conducted within 3 working days of the NJI. 
53. The PWPS pilot marker must be set accordingly. See ‘Claimant assigned 
to JCP Offer’ or ‘Claimant assigned to MIR’ 
54. LMS workflows must be set as appropriate. If the claimant is allocated to 
JCP Offer no workflow is required. If the claimant is allocated to MIR set a 
workflow; see ‘Claimant assigned to MIR’.  
PWPS participant breaks their JSA claim 
55. If a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) 
participant reclaims JSA within 12 weeks they will, generally speaking, return 
to the PWPS routeway they were participating in when their claim closed.  
56. The possible exception here is if the claimant was participating in 
Mandatory Intervention Regime (MIR) and the MIR review period has 
elapsed; in these cases it is for the adviser to determine which group the 
claimant is assigned to and ensure the PWPS marker reflects this accurately. 
57. If the break in claim is more than 12 weeks, the claimant will not be 
assigned to PWPS if they reclaim JSA. In these cases it is appropriate to set 
the PWPS marker to ‘PWPS Completed’.    
PWPS participant claims ESA  
58. If a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) 
claimant makes a claim to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), the 
ESA Guidance for Jobcentres Post Work Programme Support guidance will 
apply. 
59. The PWPS pilot marker must be amended accordingly to show they are an 
ESA claimant.  
Work Programme returner is on a training course. 
60. If, during the Work Programme Completer Interview, evidence from the 
claimant or from their exit report shows that they are currently on a training 

course arranged through their Work Programme provider, then they should be 
allowed to continue on the course where the adviser agrees that: 
  JSA conditionality continues to be met 
  the training relates to their intended Job Goal (where there are jobs in 
the Local Labour Market) 
  the training will improve their prospects of achieving work or move them 
closer to the labour market 
  the training is due to end in a reasonable time ('reasonable' would be 
measured against similar course durations on the DPT) 
  the training course is likely to be a direct route to a job and not a 
stepping stone to more training 
  if payment for travel costs, certificates or course materials are required 
then this is considered through normal Jobcentre Plus rules 
   'conditionality' rules are considered and appropriate allowances 
payable. (eg Full-time courses), and 
   the District has available funds to pay for the training. 
61.  If the training is a full time course and is funded by SFA then Districts will 
need to decide if they can fund any other associated costs such as training 
allowance, childcare and travel through Flexible Support Fund (FSF). 
62.  If it is decided that the claimant should continue the training, the District 
can consider LVP, but there is no additional funding for PWPS, the cost would 
need to be met from the District FSF budget. This may result in the claimant 
continuing with training, but with a different provider.  
63. A common sense approach must be applied to the procurement of any 
training but on occasions Districts may not be able to fund the same training 
due to commercial rules, Districts are able to use the freedom and flexibilities 
(within commercial rules) to make local decisions on this matter. 
Claimants who commenced PWPS prior to 25/11/2013 
64.  The decision that Post Work Programme Support (PWPS) will now 
continue for an unspecified period means action needs to be taken in regard 
to claimants who commenced PWPS prior to 25/11/2013. 
MIR group claimants 
65. Mandatory Intervention Regime (MIR) group claimants will have been told 
that participation lasts for a fixed period of 26 weeks from their date of 
allocation. These claimants must now be informed that their participation in 
MIR will be reviewed at the 26 week point. It is recommended that participants 
be informed of this change at the earliest possible opportunity. 
66. Additionally  for  these claimants, a Labour Market System (LMS) workflow 
will have been set for 24 weeks later using standard text ‘End of MIR – Book 
JSA end of PWPS Interview. Do not delete workflow before (date workflow 
matures)’. 
67. When this workflow matures, do not book an end of PWPS interview and 
do not change the PWPS marker to ‘PWPS Completed’. Instead, at the 26 
week point determine if the claimant should be kept on MIR (to be reviewed 
on a regular basis) or converted to JCP Offer. The PWPS marker should then 
reflect that decision (‘JSA PWPS OCM’ or ‘JSA PWPS BAU’). 

JCP Offer claimants 
68. When a claimant was allocated to Jobcentre Plus Offer (JCP Offer) a LMS 
workflow will have been set for 26 weeks later using standard text ‘Update 
PWPS pilot marker to PWPS Completed. Do not delete before (date workflow 
matures)’.  
69. In light of the PWPS extension, when the workflow matures do not change 
the PWPS marker to ‘PWPS Completed’; the marker must stay as ‘JSA 
PWPS BAU’.   

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