New Deal

This is the eternal question addressed by successive governments and hitherto largely unanswered.

The present government have introduced a range of measures to help single parents or as we prefer "parents with care" under the New deal Scheme.

The New Deal for Lone Parents

If you are a lone parent, getting a job means:

• More money in your pocket
• A chance to learn new skills and improve your employability
• An opportunity to build your confidence and meet new people
• The stability you need to plan for the future

If you are an employer, you might find that lone parents have just the kind of skills and experience your organisation needs.

Who is it for?

New Deal for Lone Parents is available to anyone looking after at least one school-aged child on their own, who is making a new or repeat claim for Income Support, and all lone parents who are already claiming Income Support. If you're claiming Income Support, it's up to you to decide whether you want to join New Deal for Lone Parents. If you're a lone parent aged between 18 and 24 and are currently claiming Jobseekers' Allowance, you'll be invited to join New Deal for 18-24.

If you are receiving Jobseekers Allowance and have a disability or health condition, New Deal for Jobseekers with Disabilities can help you. Also, New Deal for Disabled People is being piloted in some areas to help people claiming Incapacity Benefits to get into work.

How will New Deal for Lone Parents help me?

There'll be a series of interviews with a New Deal Personal Adviser, who will:

• Tell you about job vacancies, arrange training (if appropriate) and help you put together a CV and prepare for interviews
• Make sure you are better off in work
• Help you put together a personal development plan
• Help you find out about childcare
• Help you find out about the specialist help that's available if you have a disability

And the service doesn't end once you've found a job. There's an in-work support service designed to make the transition into work as straightforward as possible. The step by step guides to New Deal for 18-24 and 25 plus set out your path through New Deal, from joining to finding a permanent job.

There's also a CV Builder, which can help you get interviews by showing you how to put together an effective CV.

Will I really be better off?

As well as your wages, you could claim a number of benefits. Your Personal Adviser will make sure you get everything you're entitled to.

Source: New Deal website

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Information on this page is current and last updated: 4/2/2012