Jobcentre plus travel discount card

Dee1957

It seems impossible to get hold of one of these cards, I've searched everywhere & there's no on-line application form that I can find (as suggested by the DWP to me over the phone); of course the Job Centre looked at me as if I was from another planet - I can only assume "they" decided this scheme was a mistake, like so many of their ill-thought out schemes to help us "scroungers" get the non-existent jobs on offer, its bad enough that many & probably all, I would hazard a guess are now choosing between heat or eat because OF COURSE the benefits don't increase to cover the extortionate hike in profit-making suppliers charges - will water soon be inaffordable?

ps. Before I get any ignorant or rude replies, I'm 55, was made redundant & despite getting ESA for manic depression, have consistently been searching for work on a daily basis for nearly 2 years as can't "live" on £71 PW. Did find a !!!!!! part-time job but then working tax credit for over 50s was abolished over night & then dodgy boss cut hours to 12 PW at £6.50 - then had the cheek to sack me bcos I dared complain :rotfl:

tallandhairy

My advisor never told me about this despite on 2 occasions I asked him about getting interview travel expenses refunded for jobs more than 40 miles away. I'm mow on wp so its too late

Johnnytwostep

Free buses now is it!!!

bazza5070

The Jobcentre Travel Discount Card is available for claimaints who have been signing on between 6 and 12 months. Once you hit the 12 month mark you are no longer eligible. If you are participating in the Work Programme you can only get the bus and tram discount card and his can be renewed constantly whilst you are still on the programme. Claimaints on WP who need to travel on trains for a job interview or anything to do with the WP can ask for their fares to be reimbursed by the WP provider.
Claimaints not on the WP can apply for help with Travel to Interviews through their adviser and the Flexible Support Fund, you just need to inform you adviser before you attend your job interview that you would like to apply for help with travel. You can also apply for reimbursement of petrol costs if you wish to travel by your private car, this is paid at 25p per mile. You will need to have proof of attendance at your job interview in the form of an official letter or email. Anybody is entitled to apply for this as long as they are not participating in the work programme. Hope this helps.

andrew1211

I asked about this before Christmas as I'd heard about the free bus travel. Got blank looks all round and was then eventually told they hadn't yet got the forms in. So, asked again on 4 January 2013 and they still did not have the relevant paperwork there apparently despite the scheme starting on 1 January!

The advisor also said they aren't given out willy nilly and you have to show that having the discount card will improve your chances of getting a job.

dazzler4

Well, i did manage to finally get the card issued, i was proub that i firstly managed to get the card and secondly that i appeared to have educated my PA and the rest of the jobcentre staff for something they claimed to know nothing about.

I am now in the position where i am wanting to renew the card and now being told that this is not possible. I have done the research online and it appears once again that the information they have given to me is incorrect.
I also previously requested via DWP the information they held around the scheme and they disclosed the information to me, had this of been rolled out correctly, the PA would be clear on what action is needed to issue the cards. I love the freedom of information act!

Cherrycola

I'm having the same issue as dazzler4 my pass expires on the 28th March I asked my adviser about renewing she said I would have to apply again. My advisor went upstairs to get me the form and came back to tell me that I was not eligible as there are plenty of chef jobs in the area which require no traveling. I said that may be the case but I'm not looking for a chefs job, she then said She would have to speak to her boss when she is in.

What gets up my nose is that this pass is provided and funded by the Rail companies not the DWP they just contributed the cost of printing so why do they make it so difficult!

samsondada

Hi,

I hope all of you get into work as soon as possible.

Local people told me the jobcentres below provide a good service.

Stockport Jobcentre Plus
Alexandra Park Jobcentre Plus
Cheetham Hill Jobcentre Plus
Chorlton Jobcentre Plus
Didsbury Jobcentre Plus
Hyde Jobcentre Plus
Longsight Jobcentre Plus
Newton Heath Jobcentre Plus
Openshaw Jobcentre Plus
Rusholme Jobcentre Plus
Salford Jobcentre Plus

What is your experience of them?

Samson

firefly8

I've just been issued with a jobcentreplus travel pass. I am on ESA I have been issued with one because I'm going on a course and asked for help with travel expenses. What's unclear is whether I can get discount on a return bus ticket or does it only apply to buying singles? I'm not in London.

zebra0

firefly8 wrote: »

I've just been issued with a jobcentreplus travel pass. I am on ESA I have been issued with one because I'm going on a course and asked for help with travel expenses. What's unclear is whether I can get discount on a return bus ticket or does it only apply to buying singles? I'm not in London.

The Stagecoach website says the discount is 50% on single and return tickets and this is all over the UK, although there may be some exceptions. And I recently bought a train ticket in Cardiff and was given 50% off when I showed the card.

I was told that the card is not available for people on the Work Programme, and you have to have claimed *income-based* JSA for at least 3 months before you can ask for it.

I asked several different advisors when I signed on and was told "I don't have time to look into it this week, ask me next time", and "I don't know anything about it", and "You don't need it because you are mostly applying for jobs locally" before someone sorted it out. I rang the Job Centre to ask if I could make an appointment to get the card, but they told me I had to ask my advisor when I signed on. Lots of people have said they had trouble getting hold of the card.

Maybe a good approach is to ask for your advisor's e-mail address, and send an e-mail explaining that you have read about the card (on a poster / online) and believe that you are entitled to it. You could say how it would help your job search, and ask the advisor to check with their manager about it. If you are starting a job soon, you could wait until a week or so before signing off, and then ask someone to sort it out, because you won't be able to apply after you have signed off. The Job Centre staff should be helpful if you say you are starting a job soon.