Benefits - Job Start Payment

Job Start Payment is available to young people in Scotland aged 16 to 24 who have been out of work to help with the costs of starting a new job.

You may be eligible to apply for the Job Start Payment as a young person if all of the following apply:

• You were offered the job no later than the day before you turn 25
• You have been out of paid work for at least 6 months running up to the day you were offered your job
• You have been getting one of these benefits for 6 months or more when you were offered your job:
  • Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit (UC)
• You have been offered a job and expect to work at least 12 hours a week, averaged over a 4-week period.
• You were living in Scotland on the day you were offered the job.
• You have not been paid the Job Start Payment in the past 2 years.

You may be eligible to apply for the Job Start Payment as a care leaver if all of the following apply:

• You were offered the job no later than the day before you turn 26
• You were out of paid work on the day you were offered your job.
• You have been getting one of these benefits on the date you were offered your job:
  • Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit (UC)
• You have been offered a job and expect to work at least 12 hours a week, averaged over a 4-week period.
• You were living in Scotland on the day you were offered the job.

You have not been paid the Job Start Payment in the past 2 years

• Apply online: here
• By phone: Call 0800 182 2222 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
• By post: Call 0800 182 2222 to request an application

Find out more here

 The Welfare Support Team provide free, impartial and confidential support to claim all benefits and entitlements including Job Start Payment. Contact the Welfare Support Team by telephone: 0800 090 1004 or email: welfare.support@highland.gov.uk