What is Jobcentre Plus?
Jobcentre Plus is a business within the Department for Work and Pensions. In April 2002 the Employment Service, which ran Jobcentres and those parts of the Benefits Agency which provided services to people of working age through social security offices, was replaced by Jobcentre Plus.
It aims to help:
- more people into paid work
- employers fill their vacancies, and
- give people of working age the help and support which they are entitled to if they cannot work.
The Jobcentre Plus office in Penrith opened at the beginning of December 2003.
The aim is to give:
- advice on work, training and benefits, under one roof
- help and support if you have circumstances preventing you from working
- help to claim the benefits you are entitled to and information on any extra support that you may be able to get
- quick answers to your questions about paid work and benefits
- a service which treats you as an individual and respect for your privacy
- a friendly and efficient service in modern, pleasant offices
- access to all our job vacancies through touch-screen Jobpoints, and
- newspapers, job hunting advice and general information
Jobcentre Plus is for you if you want:
- help in finding a job
- information on training and other opportunities, or
- to use our facilities and services, such as touch-screen Jobpoints which give access to all our job vacancies
You should also use Jobcentre Plus if you are under state pension age and making a new or repeat claim for:
- Jobseekers Allowance
- Income Support
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Maternity Allowance
- Bereavement Benefits
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or
- Carers Allowance
Alternatively you may wish to use the benefit claim hotline: 0800 055 6688.
Jobcentre Plus can also advise you if you want help from the Social Fund.
Jobcentre Plus aims to provide a range of convenient ways for you to contact it. In most cases, you can talk to it by phone or in person by visiting one of its offices. Jobcentre Plus also offers an increasing range of services electronically, which the Penrith office would be able to give you information about.
If you want to discuss any aspect of looking for work, find out about the range of jobs currently available or about claiming benefits, contact:
