A Lanarkshire MSP is encouraging young constituents starting new jobs to apply for financial support aiming to help with the costs of returning to the workplace.
Neil Gray is highlighting the one-off job start payment, for those aged to 16 to 24 who have been offered a post after being unemployed for six months or more.
The funds of £267.65, or £428.25 for applicants with children, can be used to help with the costs of travel, work clothes or childcare.
Airdrie & Shotts representative Mr Gray said the Scottish Government payment responds to “how costly starting work can be, from buying the appropriate clothes to travelling and getting childcare arranged”.
He said: “People should never feel that they cannot accept a job because they don’t have the right clothes or want to ask someone to run them to work or look after their children – this takes that worry away and allows them to rejoin the workforce without feeling reliant on friends and family.
“The job start payment could make all the difference to a young person, and I would urge anyone who is eligible to apply once they have received a firm offer.”
Care leavers can apply for a further year, up to the day before their 26th birthday, and only need to be out of work and in receipt of a qualifying benefit on the day of their job offer.
The payment was first launched nearly two years ago and so far £1.1 million has been awarded to more than 4000 applicants.
Pre-application advice is available online, including eligibility and award amounts.
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