DWP Travel To Interview Scheme

playbus

I have been unemployed for 10 months and am actively seeking work, as a result of the type of work that I do (I am a Sales and Marketing professional operating in consumables goods markets) an interview could be anywhere in the country, and indeed the job could be based anywhere in the country. Up until now I have been able to claim expenses under the TTS Scheme for various interviews that I have had. However yesterday I was informed by my Job Centre this is no longer the case. I have an interview in Manchester on Monday 11th October and have no money to enable me to attend. (I live in Herts.) This would be a home based role covering the whole of the UK with HQ in Manchester. The Job Centre are now effectively denying me the opportunity to find work and actually said to me that if I could not afford to travel then I should seek employment locally.

silvercar

megabus? Super advance train ticket?

If you can't afford either of those options you could explain and ask for an initial telephone interview.

the_3rd_dynasty

playbus wrote: »

Up until now I have been able to claim expenses under the TTS Scheme for various interviews that I have had. However yesterday I was informed by my Job Centre this is no longer the case.

This is interesting. Why have they decided that you can no longer claim the expenses? Is there a limit as to how much you can claim or something?

MrsManda

They should've given you a specific reason as to why you cannot claim under the TTS. Does the interview/potential job fall within the rules for TTS?

Jobcentre Plus can’t pay for all interviews, the travel-to-interview scheme has the following rules:

• you must be out of work and on benefit
• you must have been invited to go to an interview for an exact job
• you must have been living in your area for at least four weeks
• the interview must be in the UK
• the interview must be outside your local area (check with Jobcentre Plus if you are not sure)
• the interview must be for a job that will be for 16 hours or more a week and will last more than three months

You can only get help if you go to the job interview. A check will be made with the person you meet that you actually went to the interview.
If you don’t go, you will be expected to pay back any costs you have been paid.
How it works

You must apply for help with costs before you go to your interview. Your Jobcentre Plus adviser will have to check some things with the person you are meeting so they can decide if they can help you.
If Jobcentre Plus agree to pay back your travel costs, you must ask for the refund within four weeks of your interview.

dugdale_2

It would appear from what you are saying that you are asking for funds in advance of the interview to pay for your transport to the interview.
This is not how TIS works. Before the interview you will have to complete a TIS form, you then need to pay for your travel cost yourself and claim the costs back from JCP after your interview.
It might be possible for JCP to provide you with a rail warrant for travel to your interview however that is slightly different from TIS. I suggest that you return to your Jobcentre and enquire about a rail warrant as I think there has been a slight misunderstanding somewhere along the line.

skintbint_2

you should have been givena the decision in writing stating the reasons, however dug is right you are not reimbursed for the cost of the interview until you have attended and checks are made, there is usually a comparison made between public and private transport and you get the lowest. if you are going by rail a rail warrant is issued in advance but checks are still made that you attended. it may be that the commpany you are going to the interview for could not verify all the details required before a TIS award is made. Go back and ask for a formal decision and the reason why it was refused as it doesnt seem right to me ( and i dealt with them for years)

tcr_3

Travel to Interview Scheme funds & Advisor Discretionary Funds have just about dried up. New government, you see, it's the cutbacks.

Internal guidance about the new TIS financial cutbacks only came out last week ... bottom line is your local Job Centre doesn't have to money to pay for you to attend your interview. There's no right of appeal, either, it's entirely at their discretion ... bottom line is if they don't have the money, you just can't get it.

i_want_to_believe

I work within the welfare to work sector and deal with 4 JCP offices on a daily basis and each one has a different interpretation of TIS!
Good luck in seeking a consistent answer.

skintbint_2

aaah havent seen the guidance yet - know ADF is about had it.

is there any organisation that can help - in our area there are a couple of organisations we can refer customers to if we cannot help - ask at the JCP

GotToChange

Does the (potential) employer not offer travels expenses? (After the event - but better than nothing?) I suppose you would have mentioned it in your post - but I do think that it's a big ask for them to expect you to travel all that way at your own expense... (My ex-employer always paid travel costs (inc hotels, flights, subsistence at snr level) and I have been paid to go to interviews with British Airways and WSPA - both from my home in N Notts to London). I guess there is no hard and fast rule.

Good luck.

the_3rd_dynasty

Claim under TTS or try TIS and claim back from JCP. ADF is almost gone but CCS may help. Failing that, speak to CAB. CEF could get you from A to B but remember a linear equation does not equal Z. GTC has been paid to see BA and WSPA from N Notts but you may have leave from LGW. CEF could help with any problems but remember WIMBA or WOMBA should only be a last resort.