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
1
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.
2
Conduct skills screening and consider the need for a skills
assessment.
3
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
1
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.
2
Conduct skills screening and consider the need for a skills
assessment.
3
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)’
2
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’.
2
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’.
Document Outline
