JOB CENTRE PLUS
Telford & Wrekin has been selected as one of seventeen pathfinder areas nationwide for Jobcentre Plus from 22 October 2001. Jobcentre Plus is a new service which will bring together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency which support people of working age. The pathfinder area includes Madeley, Wellington and Telford Jobcentres and the Telford Benefits Agency Office.
Jobcentre Plus is a key element in the Government’s objective to accelerate the move from a passive welfare system to one which provides active support to help people become more independent, based on work for those who can and support for those who cannot.
From 22 October 2001 any customer who wishes to make a claim for a Jobcentre Plus benefit will be encouraged to contact us by telephone on 0845 6023805 where they will go through to a contact centre. The Jobcentre Plus Benefits are:
- Jobseekers Allowance
- Maternity Allowance
- Income Support
- Bereavement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit
- Invalid Care Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
When a customer contacts the contact centre a customer services representative will gather information and issue the appropriate claim forms. The customer services representative will also arrange for a work focused meeting with a Personal Advisor within four days. When the customer attends the Jobcentre Plus office for their work focused meeting they will be interviewed by a benefits expert who will check their claim forms and give appropriate advice. The personal advisor will then explore work possibilities and make referrals to job vacancies where appropriate. They will also agree future contact and activity. Following the work focused meeting the benefits expert will see the customer again to advise of entitlement to benefit and the date of issue of first payment.
Jobcentre Plus will provide a single, integrated service to benefit claimants of working age with a clear focus on work.
For further information on the Jobcentre Plus service, please contact – Martyn Clarke on (01952) 207528.
