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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Employment, training and careers
    3. Looking for work
    4. Extra help starting or staying in work

    Helping you into work

    At different times in your life you may need extra information and support to help you into work. Whether you are a lone parent, have a disability, leaving school or college, over 50, or simply out of work, there are a number of services and programmes to help you.

    Leaving school, college or university

    Moving from school, college or university into work can be a big step. Even if you have a good idea of where you want to be, the best way to get there is not always clear. But there are lots of opportunities and help available to you and this includes getting the experience you need and financial help for training.

    • Careers
    • Skills to succeed

    Out of work

    Whether you have been out of work for a short time or a longer period, your local Jobs and Benefits office can give you information on financial support or benefits you may be entitled to for training, starting work or becoming self employed. 

    You'll be offered training opportunities, job search skills, work experience placements and supported job opportunities, to help you overcome barriers and get back into employment.

    • JobApplyNI

    Lone parents

    If you are a lone parent and thinking about returning to work, but don't know where to start, there is help and information available. Contact your local Jobs and Benefits office to find out more.

    People with disabilities, health conditions and carers

    If you have a disability, a health condition or have been seriously injured, there is help, information and support available if you're unable to work, looking for work or may be looking for work in the future.

    Through initiatives such as preparation for work programmes, you'll receive flexible work-focused support, tailored to your specific needs.

    If you get any of the following, the Condition Management Programme could help you return to work:

    • Employment and Support Allowance
    • Income Support on health grounds
    • Severe Disablement Allowance
    • Jobseekers Allowance
    • Universal Credit

    Further information is available at:

    • Employment support for people with a disability or health condition

    Carers

    If you're caring for someone, you might feel that you can't work because of your caring role. There is help if you want paid employment. Your local Jobs and Benefits office can inform you how earnings may affect entitlements and benefits you receive as a carer.

    • Carers and employment

    More useful links

    • Employed or looking for work
    • Work Experience Programme
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    Extra help starting or staying in work

    • Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF)
    • Community Family Support Programme
    • Employment support for people with disabilities or health conditions
    • Help from your local Jobs and Benefits office
    • Helping you into work
    • Step Up – the person-centred skills project
    • Support if you're employed or looking for work
    • Training programmes available
    • Work Experience Programme
    • Work schemes for people with disabilities or health conditions

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    Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

    If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

    Carer's Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912
    Email 
    dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

    Call 0800 587 2750 
    Email 
    customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

    Disability Living Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912 
    Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Employment and Support Allowance

    Call 0800 587 1377

    Jobseeker’s Allowance

    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

    Personal Independence Payment

    Call 0800 587 0932

    If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

    For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

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    For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

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    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

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    • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
      contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
       
    • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
      contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

     

    For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

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    For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

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