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Publication - Advice and guidance

European Social Fund: participant guidance

Last updated
17 October 2023 - see all updates
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Part of
International

Guidance regarding employment status, barriers to employment and qualifications for participants in the European Social Fund (ESF).

This document is part of a collection

Section B: Labour market status evidence table

ESF Labour market status

UC Labour Market Regime (LMR)

LMR Descriptor

Evidence

Employed

Working enough

(Conditionality group = “no work-related requirements”)

UC claimants whose earnings are over the `individual or household conditionality earnings threshold (CET)

or

self-employed and minimum income floor (MIF) applies.
  • evidence of employed – see ‘Employment Status’ table in the ‘Definitions’ section of this guidance (if this is available, then there is no need for any additional UC evidence as detailed below)

or

  • official UC correspondence/correctly certified evidence from a Job Centre Work Coach (where possible) confirming the individual is in the LMR `working enough’ or any other information they can supply confirming that the individual is in paid employment

or

  • screenshot evidence from personal UC account – which could include one or more of the following
  • evidence of income within payments screen
  • no 35 hour job search requirement within the claimant commitment
  • change of work details recorded within the Journal

Employed

Light touch

(Conditionality group =  “All work related requirements”)

Claimants with individual or household earnings above the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) but earnings are not enough to take them above the relevant individual or household Conditionality Earnings Threshold (CET).

 

 

 
  • evidence of employed – see ‘Employment Status’ table in the ‘Definitions’ section of this guidance (if this is available, then there is no need for any additional UC evidence as detailed below)

or

  • official UC correspondence/correctly certified evidence from a Job Centre Work Coach confirming (where possible) the individual is in the LMR `light touch’ or any other information they can supply confirming that the individual is in paid employment

or

  • screenshot evidence from personal UC account – which could include one or more of the following
  • no 35 hour job search requirement
  • evidence of some income
  • meeting with Work Coach required within claimant commitment and change of work details recorded within the Journal

(NB:  those in 'Light Touch’ because of their partners circumstances should be treated as being unemployed.)

Economically inactive

No work related requirements

(Conditionality group = “no work related requirements”)

Claimants not expected to work at present. This includes:

  • claimants with limited capability for work related activity following the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)
  • over state pension age
  • significant caring responsibilities for severely disabled person for at least 35 hours per week
  • lead carers with a child under 1 year of age

  
  • official DWP/UC correspondence/correctly certified vidence from a Job Centre Work Coach confirming (where possible) the individual is in the LMR `no work related requirements’ or any other information they can supply including confirmation that individual has not been assigned a work coach – or confirmation that the individual is only required to meet work coach infrequently

or

  • screenshot evidence from personal UC account – which could include one or more of the following:
    • No evidence of income deductions from UC claim
    • Not assigned a work coach OR only required to meet work coach infrequently
    • Evidence of attending work capability assessment
    • Evidence such as absence of work-coach meetings/liaison
    • Within the Journal, a letter confirming the claimant has Limited Capability to Work
    • Within the payments screen, an LCWRA element payable, to those who have Limited Capability for work
    • Within the payments screen, a Carers element payable to those who have caring responsibilities for over 35 hours per week

Economically Inactive

Work preparation

(Conditionality Group = Work Preparation)

Claimants expected to work in the future but are currently nominated lead carers for children. This includes:

  • those assessed as having limited capability for work (LCW)
  • lead carer where the youngest child is aged 2
  • official UC correspondence/correctly certified evidence from a Job Centre Work Coach confirming (where possible) the individual is in the LMR `work preparation’ or any other information they can supply confirming that the individual is neither employed nor unemployed (actively seeking) – or confirmation that the individual is only required to meet work coach infrequently.

or

  • screenshot evidence from personal UC account – which could include one or more of the following:
    • no evidence of income deductions from UC claim
    • not assigned a work coach OR only required to meet work coach infrequently
    • within the Journal, a letter confirming the claimant has Limited Capability to Work
    • for those with lead caring responsibilities, the claimant commitment will reflect only the following work preparation type activities:
      • attending a skills assessment
      • preparing a CV
      • improving personal presentation
      • participating in an employment programme
      • developing a business plan
      • research childcare costs and provision

Economically Inactive

Work focussed interview

Claimants expected to work in the future but are currently nominated lead carers for children. This includes:

  • a nominated lead carer of a youngest child aged 1
  • a single foster carer/main carer in a fostering couple where certain conditions apply
  • family and friends carer (also known as kinship carer) for the first year that the claimant is the responsible carer for a child under 16
  • official UC correspondence/correctly certified evidence from a Job Centre Work Coach (where possible) confirming the individual is in the LMR `work focussed interview’ or any other information they can supply confirming that the individual is neither employed nor unemployed (actively seeking) or any other information they can supply including confirmation that individual has not been assigned a work coach – or confirmation that the individual is only required to meet work coach infrequently.

or

  • screenshot evidence from personal UC account – which could include one or more of the following:
    • no evidence of income deductions from UC claim
    • not assigned a work coach OR only required to meet work coach infrequently
    • no requirement to actively seek employment or undertake work related activities in claimant commitment.

Unemployed

N.B. Some of these people may be working but earning very low amounts

Intensive work search

Claimants not working and those working but earning very low amounts and expected to take intensive action to secure work or work more   
  • official DWP/UC Correspondence/Evidence from a Job Centre Work Coach (where possible) confirming the individual is in the LMR `intensive work search’ or any other information they can supply confirming that the individual is neither employed nor unemployed (actively seeking) or has not been assigned a work coach – or confirmation that the individual is only required to meet work coach infrequently

or

  • screenshot evidence from personal UC account – which could include one or more of the following:
    • claimant commitment refers to the need for the individual to be looking for work (it may specify up to 35 hours/week job search) – see Intensive Work Search claimant commitment
    • claimant has been assigned a Job Centre Work coach who he/she has to meet/meets on a regular basis (once a month or more)
    • no evidence of income

How to use this table – including screenshot evidence and joint declarations

This table sets out evidence that can be used to verify eligibility (in relation to labour market status) for people in receipt of Universal Credit and who wish to join ESF.

It should be remembered that eligibility relates to the date the individual joins the ESF operation e.g. the participant has multiple barriers.  There are three scenarios:

  1. Where a participant newly registers for Universal Credit, the dates used in any evidence should indicate that they at least cover the date that the individual joined. UC benefits are often paid on a monthly cycle – so it may take some time before any receipt of benefit appears on the individual’s UC account. It is possible that an individual applying for ESF is genuinely unemployed – but this is not fully reflected in the account/latest screenshot because they have only recently become unemployed. In this instance, in the absence of any other available evidence, a brief record of the individual’s personal circumstances (including details of their unemployment) be kept alongside a signed self-certification and that the relevant UC screenshot evidence be collected as soon as possible after it appears in the account. 
  2. Where a participant is already registered for Universal Credit, evidence of payments made to the participant must be collected and retained within 4 weeks of the registration date. If the evidence from the UC system includes the UC header and footer, and the participant's name then there is no need to get the participant to sign and date the document. If the documentation does not include the participant's name then physical hard copies should be printed-off and countersigned/dated by the individual participant and Project Worker as part of a joint declaration.
  3. Where a participant registers for Universal Credit, starts the assessment period but leaves before they get the first payment evidence, a signed registration form, a brief record of the individual’s circumstances and a print out of My Commitments or Journal Page should be retained.

Background information on UC online accounts

Universal Credit online accounts help individuals:

  • keep a record of the actions they have undertaken to prepare or look for work
  • communicate with work coaches (messages can be sent via the system – and individuals can read their  work coaches replies)
  • report a change of circumstance
  • provide details about a health condition or disability
  • see details on how much UC benefits payments
  • record (clamant) commitments – what the individual has agreed to do

UC online account: 'to-do list’

Things that an individual need to do whilst applying for/on Universal Credit are set out in the 'to do’ list section of the UC online account. These could be things that need to be done to complete a claim or things the individual has agreed to do as part of their claimant commitment.

Tasks that have been completed in the`to-do’ list are moved from the 'to-do’ list to the 'journal’.

UC On-line Account: 'the Journal’

The journal keeps a record of everything that the individual has done whilst claiming Universal Credit

The journal can be used to send/receive messages to work coaches and a record of the online conversation are stored on the journal

Individuals should use the journal to tell their work coach of actions they have taken such as: job applications; job interviews; and any training undertaken. CVs can also be stored on the journal.

UC On-line Account: payments

The online account will show details of Universal Credit payments – including an explanatory breakdown of payments.

Glossary of some of the UC terms used in Section B

Universal Credit Personal Account – Full Service

Universal Credit full service is available to all claimants in certain areas of GB. Claimants will have an online UC account to manage their claim. Eventually, all claimants will have access to full service/account.

Conditionality Group

A claimant’s circumstances will place them in a particular 'conditionality’ group and an associated labour market regime which defines the level of support they can expect to receive, and the framework of what can be expected of them.

There are 4 conditionality groups:

  • all work related requirements
  • work preparation requirements
  • work-focused interview requirements only
  • no work-related requirements

Labour market regime

On making a new claim, every claimant is automatically allocated to a labour market regime based on their individual and household circumstances. The regime that a claimant is allocated to is reassessed as circumstances change.

Claimant Commitment

Claimants are expected to complete and accept a tailored 'commitment’ which sets out what they a have agreed to do in order to prepare for and look for work – or increase their earnings if they are already working.

AET – Administrative Earnings Threshold

The AET has been introduced to help highlight those claimants with no income, or on a very low income below AET, so they can receive the most intensive support. It is set at individual level and at household level.

CET – Conditionality Earnings Threshold

The Conditionality Earnings Threshold (CET) ensures that claimants earnings above a certain level will not be asked to carry out work-related activity. The CET is calculated on an individual basis, by multiplying the National Minimum Wage (NMW) by the claimant’s expected hours. Individuals earning above the CET threshold are placed in the 'working enough’ regime.

MIF – Minimum Income Floor

The MIF is an assumed level of earnings for a gainfully self-employed claimant, and is based on the earnings the DWP expect a claimant with similar circumstances to achieve. It is designed to encourage and incentivise individuals to increase their earnings through developing their business, and is applied if earnings are below that level (and the individual is not in a business start-up period). Individuals who are subject to MIF will not be subject to work search or availability requirements, allowing them to concentrate on making a success of their business and maximising their returns up to and beyond the level of the MIF.

Work Capability Assessments (WCA)/Limited Capability Work Related Assessment (LCWRA) 

Universal Credit claimants may be asked to attend a WCA to find out if their health condition or disability affects their ability to work. A decision-maker will use the outcome of the WCA to decide if the claimant:

  • is fit for work
  • has limited capability for work – this means the claimant will not have to look for work, but will need to take steps to prepare for work
  • has limited capability for work and work-related activity – this means the claimant will not be asked to look for or prepare for work
First published
16 March 2015
Last updated
17 October 2023 - show all updates

  1. Version 25 and 25 uploaded: minor updates re: Home Office online Right to Work Checking Service

  2. Converted to html and redirected from previous PDF version at https://www.gov.scot/publications/european-social-fund-participant-guidance/.

  3. Version 23 and 24 uploaded: Section D added. Evidence requirements to support Ukrainian Refugees

  4. Version 21 and 22 uploaded: Inclusion of SQA Navigator report as accepted evidence

  5. Version 19 and 20 uploaded: Evidence of settled status for EU Nationals after 30 June 2021; Update to Driving Licence evidence; Annex C – Evidence of settled status for EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals post 30 June 2021.

  6. Version 18 uploaded: Update to footnote, Clarification on barrier Evidence

  7. Version 16 and 17 uploaded: Addition of new barriers; update to accepted evidence; Introduction to Covid-barriers; Evidence requirements for Covid-19 barriers

  8. Version 14 and 15 uploaded: update on driving licence as evidence of right to live; Clarification on eligibility and evidence for Universal Credit.

  9. Version 12 and 13 uploaded: Updated low Income employed thresholds; Updated From Employment Deprived Areas barrier with 2020 postcode checker; Update on requirement for proof of address (proof of address applies retrospectively)_.

  10. Version 11 uploaded: Added sections on participant consent and Omnibus regulation. Points expanded upon for clarity throughout. Annex B added.

  11. Version 10 uploaded: addition of Annex B, additions to Introduction section (Introduction, Project Worker Assessment, Common Indicators); Participant Files section (Registration – Employment Status, Qualifications); Monitoring & Evaluation section (correction of typing mistake); Eligibility – Evidence section (Introduction) and Scottish Qualifications and UNESCO ISCED Levels section (addition of SVQ/MA levels).

  12. Version 9 uploaded: update to Definitions section (Economically Inactive, Low Income Employed and Primary Carer) providing further clarification on evidence requirements.

  13. Version 8 uploaded: definitions section added to and reorganised alphabetically; amendment of definition of ‘low-skilled’; addition of ‘materially deprived’, ‘individuals at risk of becoming NEET’ and ‘Low Income (social inclusion & poverty) barriers; addition of section relating to SI&P target groups; marking common indicators; additions to Introduction section (definitions of ‘supported/unsupported’ participants, ‘certified’ and importance of Project Worker Assessments); addition of Annex A.

  14. Version 7 uploaded: updates to Eligibility and Definitions sections.

  15. Version 6 uploaded: additional examples of evidence documents, LTU update.

  16. Version 5 uploaded: amalgamation of Participant Guidance and Participant Records Guidance documents and updates on referral forms, registers and evidence.

  17. Version 4 uploaded: added hyperlinks to documents on pages 23 and 24.

  18. Version 3 uploaded: spelling mistake amended.

  19. Version 2 uploaded: new logos added; amendment of barriers to employment list.

  20. Version 1 uploaded

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