Job Centre Location Change - Is It Possible To Reclaim Bus Fares?

Marv02

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

But MSErs are quite often better informed and more willing to help than (some) Jobcentre advisors.

This.:money:

mjm3346

If he qualifies for the discount below then the daily fare cap is £1.95, if he walks part of the way so he only needs one bus each way then the return trip would cost £1.20. I would suggest he try to combine visits to the job centre with interviews/physically looking for employment/visiting friends etc to make the most of the daily price cap otherwise part walk/bus for £1.20.



http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14306.aspx

If you are:

• Living in London
• And aged 18 to 60
• And receiving Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker's Allowance*
• And not getting any other free or discounted travel

You can get a Bus & Tram Discount photocard to:

• Pay half the adult Oyster fare on buses and trams when using pay as you go
• Get half-rate Bus & Tram Passes

*You must have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for a minimum of 13 weeks

Example fares

• Single bus or tram journeys - 60p
• Daily price cap - £1.95 (the most you'll pay when you make lots of journeys in a day)
• 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass - £8.30

monty-doggy

Surely if he is having to pay to go to 'sign on' he should be activly using the job centre to GET A JOB and not just sign on? £5 seems a great investment to get a job and a regular income. He should be talking to the centre about training, work trial schemes, apprenticships and anything else he can do to get a job. If he manages to get onto one of these there are trusts who will give him money that he does not have to pay back for travel and clothing for uniform and interviews. The one near me is called shaw trust. there will be something similar near you. when i needed as suit for a job interview they bought if for me and when i got the job they gave me a months worth of travel vouchers. i never had to pay it back. He needs to be much more postive and see it as worth going. you need to reiterate that to him. Good luck.

Hammyman

The above should think themselves lucky. When the DWP closed our local jobcentre, it has meant the next one is in the next town 15 miles each way. They used to do signing by post then stopped that. Around here, you're expected to fund going to sign on yourself although you can get payments for non-signing on appointments.

ThomasK31ly

Perhaps he should consider getting a bike, then when he gets a job he can bike to work.

KimYeovil

Deptford to Forest Hill?!?!?!? Your son can not be bothered to walk from Deptford to Forest Hill once per fortnight? Completely crazy complaint.

No wonder there is an obesity epidemic amongst the underclass.

Mr_Oink

Marv02 wrote: »

Hi,

My son is currently on JSA. He lives in the Deptford area and the local JC is closing down. The next closest JC would be Forest Hill which is 2 buses away, and 2 buses back. = £8 single or £4.80 oyster.

Is there anyway to claim back the bus fares that will occur from the local JC closing down? He barly gets along with £50 a week, let along having £5 taken off. He tends to watch the money he spends to a point where he writes everything down in a little book but this extra £5 thing is going to be a blow for him.

Any advice?

Would a weekly ticket be a better buy? Then he could go into the Job Centre every day and look for work. Bonus, eh!

{appreciate that the job centre have a website, but it's pants and the 'in jc' system tends to work a bit better}

DCFC79

Mr_Oink wrote: »

Would a weekly ticket be a better buy? Then he could go into the Job Centre every day and look for work. Bonus, eh!

{appreciate that the job centre have a website, but it's pants and the 'in jc' system tends to work a bit better}

yes he could buy weekly ticket and spend an hour or 2 in town handing out cvs

ali-t

Hammyman wrote: »

The above should think themselves lucky. When the DWP closed our local jobcentre, it has meant the next one is in the next town 15 miles each way. They used to do signing by post then stopped that. Around here, you're expected to fund going to sign on yourself although you can get payments for non-signing on appointments.

When I went through a period of unemployment the job centre was 15 miles away and postal signings weren't allowed. It was also a good opportunity to look at jobs, have a look in shop windows and bars/restaurants for vacancies. I don't remember it being an issue to travel and certainly didn't get any travel expenses reinbursed.

Jinx

Hi OP - I have just started signing on and I get to use the postal type of sign on and Im only 5 miles from the job centre but seem to be outwith their catchment. I am in Scotland so dont know if the rules are different where you are....

While I agree with the sentiment to get out there to see opportunities etc I dont agree with the suggestions to buy a weekly travel ticket.. around here that costs 15 quid and I certainly couldnt afford that out of my JSA each week. In my view you need a job to travel daily.

Good luck to your son