The Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF) was a discretionary fund that allowed Jobcentre Plus advisers to make small payments to claimants facing financial barriers to employment. The Adviser Discretion Fund was replaced in 2011 by the Flexible Support Fund (FSF), which continues to serve the same purpose and is the current source of discretionary financial support available through Jobcentre Plus.
What Replaced the Adviser Discretion Fund?
In April 2011, the DWP consolidated the Adviser Discretion Fund alongside several other schemes — including the Travel to Interview Scheme and the Deprived Areas Fund — into a single pot called the Flexible Support Fund (FSF). The FSF works in broadly the same way as the old ADF: it is held locally at each Jobcentre Plus office, disbursed at the discretion of work coaches, and does not need to be repaid.
If you were searching for the Adviser Discretion Fund because you need financial help with the costs of getting back into work — interview clothing, travel, training, tools or childcare — the Flexible Support Fund is what you need to ask your work coach about.
What Can the Flexible Support Fund Cover?
The Flexible Support Fund can cover a wide range of practical costs that would otherwise prevent you from attending interviews, starting work or completing work-related training. Common uses include interview clothing and workwear, travel to confirmed job interviews and work placements, childcare costs linked to job-related activity, short vocational training courses and professional licences such as CSCS cards, forklift licences and food hygiene certificates, and basic tools or equipment required to start a specific role.
FSF awards are non-repayable grants. There is no fixed national maximum — awards are made at your work coach's discretion based on your circumstances and the available local budget. To apply, speak to your work coach before travelling or incurring any costs where possible, bring evidence of your specific need, and keep all receipts as proof of expenditure.
Full guide: Read our complete guide to the Flexible Support Fund — what it covers and how to apply in 2026 for detailed information on eligibility, what costs are covered and a step-by-step guide to making a request through your work coach.
History of the Adviser Discretion Fund
The Adviser Discretion Fund was introduced to give Jobcentre Plus advisers a local budget to help claimants overcome specific practical and financial barriers to employment. Advisers could make payments for items such as interview clothing, tools, travel costs and other work-related expenses. The fund was popular with both advisers and claimants but operated alongside a number of other similar DWP schemes, creating administrative duplication.
When the Flexible Support Fund was introduced in April 2011 it brought together the ADF, the Travel to Interview Scheme, the Deprived Areas Fund and several other smaller schemes under a single framework with consistent national guidelines. The FSF has operated under various iterations since 2011 and remains the primary mechanism for discretionary financial support at Jobcentre Plus offices today.
Find Your Nearest Jobcentre Plus
To access Flexible Support Fund support you will need to speak to a work coach at your local Jobcentre Plus office. Use our Jobcentre Plus office directory to find your nearest office with address, telephone numbers and opening hours.
