interview in london, im in northwest, can job center pay for my train?

ricflairandy

Hi all, new to this unemployment lark having just been made redundant after 11 years. Never been out of work in my life (14 years of working) so all a bit lost. Ive put in for my contributions based help, but wondring if i can get any help towards the 70 quid return trainfair i will have to pay to attend an interview on wed.

any ideas?

LadyMissA

You have to ask at the job centre but you have to be on benefits to get it

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/programmesandservices/DG_173631

ricflairandy

what benefits?. Im claiming contributions based jsa if that counts?

LadyMissA

You will have to ask but it's up to them to give it to you or not

Hammyman

I once got the job center to pay me mileage to travel to an interview in Birmingham from East Yorkshire - a 300 mile or so round trip but that was some time ago. Last time I asked, they said they didn't.

persa

It's down to the discretion of your Job Centre, but mine gave me a travel warrant (i.e. voucher for a specific train journey to be cashed in at the train station in person) to let me go to an interview in London. I was claiming contributions based JSA at the time too.

Talk to your advisor asap before you book any travel.

Good luck!

ricflairandy

ill get to the job center first thing, thanks.

LadyMissA

ricflairandy wrote: »

ill get to the job center first thing, thanks.

they may need proof or a contact at the job that you have an interview

persa

LadyMissA wrote: »

they may need proof or a contact at the job that you have an interview

Good point - forgot about that. I had to show a print out of an e-mail confirming my interview date and time.

LadyMissA

persa wrote: »

Good point - forgot about that. I had to show a print out of an e-mail confirming my interview date and time.

yeah as they may think you are just coming down here to see the Queen

persa

LadyMissA wrote: »

yeah as they may think you are just coming down here to see the Queen

You say that, but apparently loads of people had abused the system previously to get a free trip to London! Might explain why TIS got scrapped and replaced with a discretionary pot of money.

In my case, the leap of faith my advisor took paid off as going for that interview got me off benefits! Still very grateful to that lovely lady.