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Who is eligible

You must take part in Flexible New Deal if you’ve been getting Jobseeker’s Allowance for 12 months (or after six months in some cases). If you do have to take part and refuse, you may lose benefits.

From October 2009, Flexible New Deal is available in the following areas:

England

• Central London, Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth
• Devon and Cornwall
• East Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Kent, Surrey and Sussex
• Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk
• North, East and South Yorkshire and the Humber
• Tees Valley
• West Midlands

Scotland

• Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde
• Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders
• Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire

Wales

• All of Wales

During 2009-2010, some areas will still provide the earlier New Deal programmes.

Depending on your circumstances, if you do have to take part and refuse, you may lose benefits.

• When you must take part in New Deal

Other New Deal programmes are entirely voluntary and, as long as you meet the programme’s eligibility requirements, you can decide whether to take part or not.

• New Deal for Disabled People

• New Deal for Lone Parents

• New Deal for Partners

• New Deal 50 plus

How it works

Flexible New Deal is delivered for Jobcentre Plus by organisations called ‘providers’. Providers are professional organisations who will offer you support that’s tailored to meet your needs. They will ensure that your time with them is a positive and helpful one.

As part of Flexible New Deal, you and the provider will:

• discuss what help you need to find work
• draw up an action plan of things you'll do to improve your chances of getting a job
• treat each other fairly
• attend meetings or take phone calls at the times agreed

Part of Flexible New Deal includes you doing work experience for four weeks to improve your chances of finding a job. You may also get training and other support to help you find a job. Jobcentre Plus hope that if you follow your action plan, you'll leave Flexible New Deal because you've got a job.

Flexible New Deal can last for a year. During this time, you’re still a customer of Jobcentre Plus and you:

• must attend the Jobcentre every two weeks while you get Jobseeker's Allowance
• should report any change of circumstances to Jobcentre Plus
• can claim the cost of travel to job interviews

If you don't get a job while with the Flexible New Deal provider, then your Jobcentre will work closely with you to build on the skills and experience you've gained.

What Flexible New Deal expects from you

As part of Flexible New Deal, there are things Jobcentre Plus expects from you.

Your responsibilities are to:

• make the most of the help your provider gives
• attend meetings or take phone calls at the times agreed
• complete any activities that you and the provider have agreed
• continue to actively look for work
• attend the Jobcentre every two weeks
• tell Jobcentre Plus about any changes in your circumstances

If you don't meet these responsibilities, your benefit may be affected.

Please note, if you've reached the age when you can get Pension Credit before Flexible New Deal is due to start, your benefit won't be affected if:

• you choose not to take part
• you choose to take part and then leave before Flexible New Deal is finished

The age you can get Pension Credit is rising from 60 to 65 by 2020. This is linked to the changes to women’s State Pension age.

• Changes to the State Pension age (pensions and retirement planning)

To find out more about Flexible New Deal, contact your Jobcentre.

• Find your local Jobcentre Plus office Opens new window