Help with getting to interviews

Nikkisun

We live on the South Coast ans Hubby has applied for a job (through the job centre) which is based locally. However they want him to go for an interview in Luton (approx 120 miles away).

The train fare is £53 which we just can't afford at the moment. Hubby is on contribution based JSA can he get any help with the fare at all?

SomeBozo

You need to discuss it with your Job Centre adviser beforehand with evidence of the interview. More info here http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/Customers/Programmesandservices/015154.xml.html Plus job seekers allowance is just for that, money to seek a job, probably not what you wanted to hear.

Also, check out National Express coachs, they are usually cheaper than the train.

Bozo

Nikkisun

Thanks - he has gone down to the JC now to find out.

Have looked at National Express but the first coach gets him there at 15.35 and his interview is at 11.00 with the last coach back departing just 5 minutes after the first one arrives!!

He could go up the day before but then the cost of somewhere to stay for the night makes the cost of the coach and accommodation more than the cost of the train!

I understand that jobseekers is to help you seek work and we wouldn't dream of asking for help normally to get to interviews (in fact in the last couple of weeks he has been to 3 interviews costing £15 each time in petrol) but he can't pay out £53 for the train and manage to live on the £7.50 which is left over!

[Deleted User]

try www.thetrainline.com for cheapest train fares

Nikkisun

Well he's just got back and they've given him a travel warrant for the train fare so at least he can get there (now he just has to get the job!).

I did use Trainline and £53 was the cheapest fare there was as he has to leave at 7.00 so can't use any discount cards etc.

k1mmie

What does the travel warrant cover him for? My husband is constantly having to travel to London for interviews and at £17 a day it is eating through our JSA allowance. Could he apply for a pass of some description?

brightonman123

train should be better, time wise?

get a letter / email offering interview, and see jobcentre- i think you can get warrant for standard class return fare. i doubt you will squeeze a hotel as well!

Nikkisun

When he went yesterday he took a copy of the email confirming the interview and they wrote him a rail warrant which he took to the train station and exchanged for a ticket.

He's got to pay for the bus fare at the other end to get from the station to the interview but that's no different to him having to pay petrol down here to get to a local interview so no problem there.

tink_the_stink

The scheme that paid for the train ticket is called TIS or Travel To Interview Scheme