After you apply

As part of applying for Job Start Payment, you need to send Social Security Scotland your job offer confirmation. You also may need to send them further supporting information. You can find more information on the documents Social Security Scotland accept below.

Confirmation of your job offer

You need to send Social Security Scotland a copy of your job offer confirmation. A job offer confirmation is written proof from your employer offering you the job.

The job offer confirmation needs to include at least one piece of personal information about you, one piece of information about the company and the date you received the job offer.  

1. At least one piece of personal information about you. This could be your:
   • name
   • address
   • email address
   • phone number
2. At least one piece of information about the employer. This could be their:
   • name
   • address
   • email address
   • phone number
3. The date when you received the job offer
   • This is the date when you received written confirmation from your employer, not the date you’ll start your job unless they’re the same date.

If you're self-employed

You need to send Social Security Scotland proof of an offer of work or a contract.

This might be:

• a contract for work through a recruitment agency
• an agreement for recurring work
• a letter confirming that you won a contract or invitation to tender

If your job offer was made over the phone

You need to ask your employer for a written job offer confirmation. You can send them the list above so they're aware of the 3 pieces of information they need to include.

Proof of your job offer

Social Security Scotland accept your proof of job offer confirmation in any of the following formats, as long as it includes the 3 pieces of information mentioned above:

• a letter, this might be on headed paper
• your contract
• an email
• a screenshot of a text or any other digital message
• a screenshot of your job offer from a job search website
• a signed hand-written note

Social Security Scotland have provided examples of job offer confirmations. 

Confirming that you’re a care leaver

If you’re a care leaver, you may also need to fill out and return Social Security Scotland's care leaver evidence form confirming your time in care. Social Security Scotland will send you this form in the post 3 to 5 working days after you submit the Job Start Payment form.

You can also download the care leaver evidence form.

A professional person needs to sign this form before you send it to Social Security Scotland. A professional person can be:

• a social worker or representative from the local authority where you were in care
• a doctor or nurse
• a counsellor, family mediator or advocacy worker
• a lawyer or solicitor
• a teacher or adviser from your school, college or university

If you think you’ll need more than 2 weeks to post this form, call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to tell them about the reasons for this delay. 

If you already have a letter with this information, you can send this instead. This should be an official letter that confirms the type of care you were in last and when you left care and is signed by a professional person.

Confirming you're the main person looking after a child

You might be able to get the higher payment of £503.10 for Job Start Payment if you’re the main carer of a child. 

For this, you’ll need to send us a copy of one of these legal orders for each child you’re looking after:

• a Kinship Care Order
• an Adoption Order
• a Compulsory Supervision Order
• a Residence Order
• a Permanence Order
• any other legal order that says you’re the child’s main carer.

How to send your documents

Upload your documents

You can upload your documents online. This is the fastest way to get them to us. You can upload scans, photos and screenshots. 

Send your documents

You can send Social Security Scotland any photocopies or printouts of documents in the post. It can take up to 2 weeks to return any original documents you send. You can make photocopies at your local library. 

You should write the following information on your photocopies or printouts: 

• your full name
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number, if you know it
• the words ‘Job Start Payment’, so Social Security Scotland knows what you’re applying for

You can find your National Insurance number:

• on your payslip or P60
• on letters about your tax, pension or benefits
• in the National Insurance section of your personal tax account 

You can send one piece that proves different requirements. For example, a bank statement that confirms your identity, address and that you were living in Scotland on the day you received the job offer.

You need to send your documents to:

If you’d like a pre-paid envelope to send documents to Social Security Scotland, call free on 0800 182 2222 and they’ll send you one.