Work support schemes

There are many benefits and schemes to help you to find and stay at work. Contact your local Jobcentre or equivalent for more information on the support available to you. To find your nearest office and view information online, visit www.direct.gov.uk or www.nidirect.gov.uk in Northern Ireland.

England, Scotland and Wales 

Disability employment advisers can help to identify your skills and assess how arthritis might affect your work. They can also tell you about schemes and benefits that may help you into employment or training.

Work Programme – in 2011, the Work Programme replaced the back to work employment support offered by the New Deal for Disabled People and Pathways to Work. The Work Programme offers personalised support to people with a variety of needs. 

Work Choice – replaces Workstep, Work Preparation and the Job Introduction Scheme. It helps disabled people whose support needs cannot be met through other schemes, including Access to Work. 

Work Trial enables you to try out a job for a short period of time. You still receive benefits while you are on the trial, so it’s a risk-free way of finding out if a job is right for you.

Northern Ireland 

Employment support advisers can help to identify your skills and assess how arthritis might affect your work. They can also tell you about schemes and benefits that may help you into employment or training.

Pathways to Work offers tailored support to help people to get into work.

Workable provides a flexible range of long-term support to assist disabled people with substantial barriers to employment, find and keep work. 

Job Introduction Scheme enables you to try out a job for 13 weeks by providing financial support to your employer.

Across the UK 

Access to Work is aimed at disabled people who are in work or entering work. The scheme works with employers and employees to arrange adjustments to support disabled people in work. This might include support workers, adaptations to premises or equipment or help with travel to work. Employers usually meet these costs and are reimbursed by the scheme.

See also Access to Work (NI). 

Tax credits 

Working Tax Credit is a means-tested payment for people in low-paid work. 

 If you are on a low income and paying council tax you can claim Council Tax Benefit.

Contact your local council for more information. When you first start work, you may also be eligible for job grants or overlap benefits to help you make the transition to work.

For the latest information see www.direct.gov.uk or www.nidirect.gov.uk in Northern Ireland.

Self-employment

Over three million people in the UK, of all ages and from every walk of life, are self-employed. There is a lot of information, advice and practical support available. Business Link in England, Business Gateway in Scotland, and Flexible Support for Business in Wales can provide the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and develop your business. Invest NI offers similar support in Northern Ireland.

If you are aged 18 to 30 and unemployed, The Prince’s Trust could help you start a business. Prime can support people aged 50 and over to set up in business. You should contact HM Revenue and Customs before going into business so you can understand your obligations.