New Deal 25+ aims to help unemployed people aged 25 or over find jobs and help them stay and progress in employment.
Eligibility
People aged 25 or over who have been unemployed and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for 18 months or more (or for 18 months out of the last 21 months) are eligible for and required to participate in New Deal 25+.
People in receipt of Pension Credit for 18 months or more and not working or working less than 16 hours per week may enter New Deal 25+ voluntarily and sanctions will not be applied for non-participation. The qualifying period of 18 months may consist of a combination of JSA and Pension Credit or Pension Credit only.
Participants on the New Deal for Lone Parents and New Deal for Partners programmes will have access to the full range of provision within the New Deal 25+ programme, while remaining on their existing benefits.
Early EntrySome people may enter New Deal earlier on a voluntary basis. These will be people who, for a variety of reasons, might find it particularly difficult to find work without the additional help offered by New Deal. A New Deal Personal Adviser at the local Jobs & Benefits office / JobCentre 
will be able to advise on early entry eligibility.