Broker East through a team of Job Broker Consultants provides a personally tailored face-to-face service. We will help you find, prepare for and retain work. Your involvement is entirely voluntary and is available to anyone on an incapacity related benefit. Participation will not affect your benefit entitlement or prompt the Department for Work and Pensions to refer you for a medical review. We work in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. If you are not from this area please visit www.newdeal.gov.uk/nddp or www.jobbrokersearch.gov.uk to find your nearest Job Broker.
What will Broker East do to help me find work?

The following are examples of the kind of help we can provide.

We can :

	Advise and guide you regarding employment choices and options
	Provide you with information on suitable full time and part time jobs
	Help with all aspects of job search including CVs and interview preparation
	Source and fund suitable training
	Help overcome problems that are preventing your return to work
	Offer flexible funding to help you look for and start work or self employment
	Give financial assistance to help you bridge the gap between final benefit payment and first payday
	Refer you to specialist advisers and organisations who can assist you

When you start work we will provide a supportive and comprehensive aftercare
package including :

	£100 bonus payment after 3 months in work
	Access to 24 hour counselling support
	Support from you personal Job Broker Consultant

Broker East can continue to support you in work!

Broker East provides a supportive aftercare package during your first 6 months at work, offering you ongoing assistance as and when you need it and access to 24 hour counselling support.

Once you have been at work for 3 months you will be entitled to a bonus payment of £100. To be eligible for this payment you will be asked to provide payslips or evidence from your employer that you have been working for the whole of the qualifying period.

Want to know more? Then please phone now on 0800 389 7036
Below are some commonly asked questions that you might find the answers to useful.

What if I sign off my benefit to start work and then find that I cannot cope with the work?

If you start work or training, a 52-week linking rule allows you to return to your incapacity related benefit at the same rate that you are on at the moment. You are eligible for this protection if:

	You have been incapable of work for more than 196 days
	You start work or training within one week of signing off your benefit
	You notify the Department for work and Pensions within one month of entitlement to benefit ending that you have started work or training. You must notify them once you have actually started, even if you have already told them you intended to start

Can I do any training courses to help me back into work?

Your Job Broker can advise you on suitable training and if appropriate will source, and arrange courses for you. Financial help may be available to assist with training costs.

Can I work whilst on my benefit?

YES, you are allowed to work whilst on benefits, this is called Permitted Work.

If you claim Incapacity Benefit:

	You can work for less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £81.00 per week (from 01/10/05) for 26 weeks (this period can be extended up to 52 weeks)
	You can work and earn no more than £20 per week for as long as you are on benefit
	You must notify the Department of Work and Pensions that you have started work within six weeks of doing so.

If you claim Incapacity Benefit with another means tested benefit such as Housing Benefit or Income Support

See above, your Incapacity Benefit will be unaffected, but income over your earnings disregard per week will be taken into consideration when calculating Income Support or Housing Benefit. You will need to contact your local Jobcentre for Income Support and/or your local council for housing and council tax benefit.

If you claim Income Support on the grounds of incapacity for work
Any income over your earnings disregard will be deducted from your benefit. You will need to contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

What will I receive when I sign off my benefit to start work?

Your benefit entitlements will be paid to you the day before you start work.
You may also be entitled to a Job Grant if your job is expected to last for 5 weeks or more. This is paid by automatically and to be eligible, you must:

	Be over 25 years of age, unless you are a Lone Parent
	Have been in receipt of Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance for at least 26 continuous weeks.

The Job Grant is paid at one of two rates:

	£100 for single customers and couples without dependants.
	£250 for couples with dependants and all Lone Parents.

How will I cope without money if I have to work a week or longer in hand?
Financial help is available from Broker East to help bridge the gap from your final benefit payment until your first payday.

If you are a Lone Parent in receipt of Income Support for 26 weeks - you can stay on Income Support at the existing rate for the first two weeks of work. When you notify the Social Security you are starting work, they will allow you to keep your order book for the next two weeks, you do not have to make a special claim.

What help can I get towards my Rent and Council Tax when I start work?
If you have been claiming Income Support for 26 weeks - your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will be paid automatically for four weeks at the existing rate. Following this period you may be entitled to claim a Rent/Council Tax Rebate.

If you have been claiming Incapacity Benefit - you will need to apply for a Rent/Council Tax rebate.

Can I get help with my mortgage interest when I start work?
Your mortgage interest will be paid for an extra 2 to 4 weeks, at the existing rate if you have been receiving Income Support for more than 26 weeks. The two weeks run on only applies to lone parents getting the lone parents' benefit run on.

You do not have to make a separate claim, this will be done automatically when you notify the Social Security that you are starting work.

What happens to my Disability Living Allowance when I start work?
Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are payable whether or not you are working. These benefits are not means tested so earnings do not affect the amount of benefit that you are entitled to. However, starting a job may suggest that your care or mobility needs have changed, so you benefit entitlement could be reconsidered. You should inform whoever pays your benefit of your change of circumstances.

What is the Access to Work Scheme?
Access to Work provides practical advice to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability and also grants towards extra employment costs, including:

	Special aids or equipment for employment
	Adaptations to employers premises or equipment
	Help with travel to work if you are unable to use public transport due to your disability
	A support worker to provide help in the workplace
	A communicator for support at job interviews

The programme is flexible to meet the person's needs in their job.
Your Job Broker will put you in touch with an Access to Work Adviser if required.

FROM BENEFITS TO WORK… WE'LL TAKE YOU THERE