JSA, Training and Travel Expenses

Batman_100

Hi.


I'm currently on the work programme, and for the last 2 weeks I've been attending a training programme in preparation for a job interview I'm about to go for. The training programme is being paid for by the company who are interested in giving me a job. The training is taking place at a college a considerable distance from where I live and I have to catch two trains to get there. The total traveling time is about 1hour 15 minutes by trains, but because of a fairly infrequent trains service near where I live (there's a 40 minute gap between trains in the middle of the morning rush hour!), I have to leave the house 1 hour 45 minutes before I'm due to start college every morning if I'm to get there on time.


Before I started the course, I asked both JCP and my work programme provider if they would be able to pay my travel expenses (they were more than happy to pay for my bus pass last time I did a work experience placement). JCP said no because the college is outside my local travel to work area and that I'm going above and beyond what they realistically expect me to do to look for work. But they did tell me to ask my work programme provider for help. However, my work programme provider told me that they can't help me because of the 90 minute rule. I'm in a bit of a grey area regarding this. Is the 90 minute rule based on actual traveling time, or the time you need to leave home to be there on time?


It's also worth nothing that my journey to college takes me though the centre of a big city, and because of the way the zone system works, it costs exactly the same for a season ticket from my local station to the city centre, as it does to commute to the other side of the city. My work programme provider told me that if I was commuting to the city centre, they'd pay my travel costs, but not to my college, even though it will cost them no extra money.


And to complicate things more, I saw my work programme adviser again today and asked about travel expenses, and she told me that they can't be paid because I don't yet have a guaranteed job offer and that they expect me to fund my travel expenses myself.


The cost of a peak time rail pass is considerable when you're living on JSA, and I've now been given 3 different reasons as to why I'm not eligible for help. This doesn't sound right to me, and is there anyone out there who knows about things, and if I might actually be able to get some help.


Thanks.

DomRavioli

The 90 minute rule means anything that is technically commutable within 90 minutes of home; the actual travelling time only. Just because your trains fall at different times won't change that, but technically it could take you less than 90 minutes to get there (there's nothing realistic about it, but it is the DWP you're dealing with).

And you aren't commuting to the city centre, you're commuting PAST the city centre, regardless of cost, you aren't going there so they cannot help you.

And yes, you may need a guaranteed job offer (if that is their T&Cs), that is down to them.

It is perfectly justifiable, and within the DWP rules and regulations. You aren't entitled to help with travel costs if you have been turned down by both the DWP and your provider, you have been given three reasons why, and you're still second guessing them. Regardless of how it "sounds", it is correct, as part of a jobseekers agreement, you have to travel up to 90 minutes away, and you are expected to fund this through your JSA, if the DWP cannot provide assistance.

They are right.

Batman_100

DomRavioli wrote: »

The 90 minute rule means anything that is technically commutable within 90 minutes of home; the actual travelling time only. Just because your trains fall at different times won't change that, but technically it could take you less than 90 minutes to get there (there's nothing realistic about it, but it is the DWP you're dealing with).

And you aren't commuting to the city centre, you're commuting PAST the city centre, regardless of cost, you aren't going there so they cannot help you.

And yes, you may need a guaranteed job offer (if that is their T&Cs), that is down to them.

It is perfectly justifiable, and within the DWP rules and regulations. You aren't entitled to help with travel costs if you have been turned down by both the DWP and your provider, you have been given three reasons why, and you're still second guessing them. Regardless of how it "sounds", it is correct, as part of a jobseekers agreement, you have to travel up to 90 minutes away, and you are expected to fund this through your JSA, if the DWP cannot provide assistance.

They are right.

So are you saying work programme providers are allowed to set their own regulations in addition to DWP/JCP regulations?

I didn't think they could do that. I thought they had to follow national standards put in place by the DWP.

Voyager2002

It seems very strange that an employer expects you to undergo training before deciding whether or not to offer you a job.

If this is training in generic skills that would make you more employable, then one might expect the DWP to fund it (including travel). There might also be funding available from the ESF (part of the EU), although goodness knows how you would gain access to that.

busy_mom_2

You cannot access any JCP funding once referred to the WP. The JCP rule re the funding, if you werent on WP would be depenadant upon whether they referred you to the course or the work experience, if so yes all expenses payable. if not unlikely unless you were guaranteed a job and even then maximum of two weeks.

As for WP rules, they make up their own to avoid paying anything!

Batman_100

Voyager2002 wrote: »

It seems very strange that an employer expects you to undergo training before deciding whether or not to offer you a job.

If this is training in generic skills that would make you more employable, then one might expect the DWP to fund it (including travel). There might also be funding available from the ESF (part of the EU), although goodness knows how you would gain access to that.

I already passed an initial interview before being accepted for the training programme. So far we've had some sessions on generic skills like first aid, data protection etc, but we've also had a very specific induction to the company. The course is partly ESF funded and partly funded by the employer. I've got a gut feeling that they've already decided to hire me based on the initial interview and that the final interview will just be a formality, but I'm not being complacent or taking anything for granted.

Batman_100

busy_mom wrote: »

You cannot access any JCP funding once referred to the WP. The JCP rule re the funding, if you werent on WP would be depenadant upon whether they referred you to the course or the work experience, if so yes all expenses payable. if not unlikely unless you were guaranteed a job and even then maximum of two weeks.

As for WP rules, they make up their own to avoid paying anything!

But the thing is, I only found out about this job through a phone call from a job centre just up the road from the college (not the one I sign on at). I'm guessing the college had passed my details onto them after I attended an apprenticeships open day at the college about 6 months ago.

I've explained everything to my WP adviser and my home job centre and they've got no objection to me doing the course, apart from bit funding my travel expenses. JCP even arranged for me to be excused from signing on whilst I'm at college.