New Deal 50 plus
Contents of this page:
The TUC and the New Deal 50 plus
The Trades Union Congress is helping the Government publicise the New Deal 50 plus because we think it is a genuine attempt to help older workers facing long-term unemployment or age discrimination.
What's on offer?
The New Deal 50 plus offers individual advice and support in getting a job from a New Deal Personal Adviser. If you get a job, you also get:- A £600 Training Grant immediately, to spend on training to help you keep your new job or move on to a better one
- After a year, an Individual Learning Account, worth £150, to spend on more training
- If your job pays less than £15,000 a year, a tax-free Employment Credit worth £60 a week full-time (£40 part-time) for a year
This means that someone working for the minimum wage for 35 hours a week is guaranteed a wage of more than £9,500 in their first year.
If you are disabled or have children, you may be able to claim tax credits on top.
Who qualifies?
You qualify for the New Deal 50 plus:
- If you are over 50
- There is no upper age limit, you can still qualify if you are over 65
- If you (or your husband, wife or partner) have been out of work and claiming a qualifying benefit for at least 6 months
- Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance are all qualifying benefits
- Some people who have been claiming Invalid Care Allowance or National Insurance Credits also qualify
- And the New Deal 50 plus is completely voluntary: if you decide it isn't for you, there are no benefit penalties for turning it down
The New Deal 50 plus has been available since October 1999 in 9 'pathfinder' areas, and nationwide since April 2000.
Useful Contacts
Your local Jobcentre (if you aren't sure where it is, it should be listed in the phone book, under 'Employment Service')
The New Deal Information Line, 0845 606 2626 or visit the website, www.newdeal.gov.uk
TUC Unemployed Workers' Centres can help you apply for the New Deal 50 plus, and to deal with any problems you face.
National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux - 020 7833 2181 - www.nacab.org.uk
Benefits Agency (your local office will be in the phone book) - www.dss.gov.uk
Unions today
Whatever job you get through the New Deal 50 plus there's a union for you - at times we all need advice and support in our jobs.
Everyone has the right to join a union. Your employer doesn't need to know you are thinking of joining, and it costs less than you may think - the average cost of being in a union is just 99p a week for part-time workers, and £1.99 for full-timers.
If you want to know a suitable union to join then you can ask the TUC's know your rights line 0870 600 4 882 or complete our form