Job Grant: analysis of consultation responses

1 Background to the consultation

This chapter explains the main elements of the Job Grant, outlines the policy context and provides a description of the consultation process.

Job Grant is a new benefit that forms part of the Scottish Government's wider approach to employability and Fair Work. It consists of a one-off cash payment of £250 (or £400 for those who have children) to help young people cover the transition costs of moving into work, which may include moving to retrospective payment in work, the need for work clothes and materials, and dealing with other initial costs such as travelling to the workplace.

The initial months of employment have been shown as a time when many young people lose work and dealing with transition costs is one of the difficulties they face. The Job Grant is thus an effort to reinforce the Government's emphasis on sustainable work, i.e. to not just help people find a job, but also support them to sustain their job and make progress in work.

The Job Grant will be paid to individuals who:

• Are aged 16-24 (25 for care leavers)
• Have been out of paid employment for at least 6 months (apart from care leavers)
• Are in receipt of a qualifying benefit specified by the Scottish Government.

Once implemented, the Job Grant will be delivered by Social Security Scotland. While initially operating from the Agency’s offices in Dundee and Glasgow, the goal is to establish a local delivery presence in each local authority across Scotland to ensure that the Job Grant is delivered in an accessible and person-centred manner. In due course, it is expected to complement devolved employability services such as Fair Start Scotland and the new No-One left Behind Employability Funding Stream.

The purpose of the public consultation, which was open between 16 January 2019 and 9 April 2019, was to identify views on the key eligibility criteria, payment format and any unintended consequences and impacts of the Job Grant. These views should provide an important evidence base to shape the Job Grant and support final policy decisions.

The public consultation asked 17 questions about the key eligibility criteria and format of the Job Grant; nine yes/no questions and eight open-ended questions. The questions are listed in Appendix 1.

96 valid responses were received, 44 from individuals and 52 from organisations.

This report analyses the consultation responses and presents the main issues and themes that emerge.