job centre 'travel to interview' scheme stopped!

Braintree

dugdale wrote: »

I don't have any contacts outside my region so couldn't comment for any other Jobcentre. I would find it hard to believe that any region would call an end to training, TIS or ADF however they might have changed the eligibility criteria. Both TIS and ADF are down to adviser discretion, they aren't automatically given, perhaps a visit to your jobcentre is called for - ask to speak to the adviser manager if you don't make any progress with your adviser.

You've been incredibly helpful, sorry for almost interrogating you about JCP funds! I sign on Monday so I think I will push a bit further with my query, thanks.

outofwork2years

I have just been to the JC to ask about the TIS (Found out that it has all chaged via this website - so thanks) - I could have asked a friend to help me out, but that would mean that I would have to pay it back!

Ok - I am on £135 each two weeks, but I have a 1 bed flat that I have bill for, and as it stand from my pay on Friday I have £0 - I could also clame it back, but thats not the point!

dugdale wrote: »

There isn't a bottomless pot of money available and it is only correct that more thought is given to how tax payers money is spent.

I PAID TAX FROM THE AGE OF 16... I also think that the mess we are in is down to the GOVERMENT - the Big Society - all in it together... another more like The BIG JOKE...

Well - I now have an appoitment to orgines the giry, and then go and collect the giro on Weneday for an interview on the Thursday!

So hope that I get this job! :-)

relic

outofwork2years wrote: »

I have just been to the JC to ask about the TIS (Found out that it has all chaged via this website - so thanks) - I could have asked a friend to help me out, but that would mean that I would have to pay it back!

Ok - I am on £135 each two weeks, but I have a 1 bed flat that I have bill for, and as it stand from my pay on Friday I have £0 - I could also clame it back, but thats not the point!



I PAID TAX FROM THE AGE OF 16... I also think that the mess we are in is down to the GOVERMENT - the Big Society - all in it together... another more like The BIG JOKE...

Well - I now have an appoitment to orgines the giry, and then go and collect the giro on Weneday for an interview on the Thursday!

So hope that I get this job! :-)

I'm sorry, but is anything you just wrote in English?

DCFC79

I thought the TIS was just being done on a case by case basis or are different areas implementing different changes

kerry_452

I've just been in to my local job centre (Stockport) who confirmed that our tis scheme is not closing neither is the clothing money scheme, she wouldn't comment about other job centres.

-k-

persa

A recruitment consultant suggested a job hundreds of miles away that might be suitable for me. The company wanted to meet with me but weren't prepared to pay travel expenses. I didn't know a lot about them, they didn't know a lot about me. At that stage, it was a bit of a punt for both of us.

I couldn't afford to pay out hundreds of pounds for an interview that I wasn't convinced would go anywhere. The company presumably held a similar opinion. My job centre adviser was more positive, encouraged me to attend and sorted out my travel through TIS. When I turned up for interview and discussed the role in more detail with the interviewer, it turned out to be a fantastic opportunity and I was sold.

Fortunately, so was the company and I'm now gainfully employed and no longer claiming JSA from the government. I hope never to claim benefits again. :j

I realise budgets are being cut left, right and centre, but in my opinion, help for travel expenses is so important. I would probably still be on the dole otherwise, as there weren't any suitable vacancies in my local area. I had to move to find work - and I couldn't have done this on just £65 a week.

Even if TIS is no longer a national policy, I hope jobseekers around the country are still managing to get help with their interview expenses if they need it. It really did make the difference in my case.

caffeine_demon

I'm getting seriously miffed with job searching - In the past month i've been rejected at interviews for nonsense reasons such as:

1 - we thought you'd be using this as a temporary measure and would leave quickly (I never got a chance to refute this)

2 - We were concerned that we can't offer you the security we feel you are seeking (for a job I always knew was a temporary position)

3 - We wanted to hear more about what you'd done yourself rather than as a team

and contradicting that:
4 - We didn't think you'd be enough of a team player

and the usual
5 - You didn't have the right experience (for jobs which are as near as anything to the role I did for 8 years)

6 - we think your willy's too big to fit under the desks here..

the job centre then say I should "only apply for jobs I know i could do", before doing their job search which brings up jobs I wouldn't stand a chance of getting, but they make me apply for...

(ps - reason 6 is actually not true)

I just can't win!

oldmotherreilly

The TIS scheme and the ADF have just been reorganised and are now part of what is called the 'Flexible Support Fund'. Everything is the same for this including the paperwork that the JCP have to complete but it is now part of a bigger scheme to help people back in to work. I can't find any information on the directgov website but I did find this when I googled the term:

Chris Grayling (Minister of State (Employment), Work and Pensions; Epsom and Ewell, Conservative) Help with the cost of travel to job interviews remains available from Jobcentre Plus. The Travel to Interview scheme along with a number of other discretionary funds has been rolled into a single Flexible Support Fund. This allows Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers more flexibility to tailor support they provide to jobseekers and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. Jobcentre Plus advisers will continue to use their discretion to decide when to pay travel to interview costs.

daveswildcamping

Travel expense on jsa, had an interview in suffolk 7-10-11 travel is around 260 miles each way.
The rules have changed since the last time I claimed expenses the Job centre have replaced travel to interview scheme, they now call it the Flexible Support Scheme with a £70 cap.

They used to pay 25p per mile but a decision is made on your vehicle and engine size, at the 25p per mile I would have received £150 total now they have only gave me £70 take or leave it, I was told I would have to put any other money in myself or borrow from family it works out at 12.5p per mile for me. They even checked up to make sure the interview was for a job I usually apply for and asked me to ask employer for a reimbursement, I said why the hell would I travel half way down the country for a job am not suitable for, I was asked to the interview if I wasn't suitable why would they ask me.
I said this will put people off trying for work outside there area, she replied put a complaint in.

micki0268

Hi everybody!
I have just returned from my local Jobcentre having been refused any financial help for an interview I have tomorrow - it's a 50 mile round trip by car. I have used the scheme many times over the last 2 years - they would pay for any journey over 30 minutes as this would be considered to be outside the local area.
I looked at the government's website and was dismayed to find that "The Travel to Interview Scheme has closed". There are however funds available "at the discretion of Jobseeker's Advisors" - this word "discretion" always bothers me. My Advisor said that she didn't get any travelling expenses for a similar journey so that "they" wouldn't allow it! Who are "they"? I understood that SHE had the discretionary power to award the expenses or not - seems like a case of sour grapes on her part to me!
I wonder if it's worth trying to appeal her decision to her manager?
Perhaps the government could compel prospective employers to pay the expenses - they used to pay them years ago, after all it's them who decided to interview you.
:mad: micki