Travel to interview allowance/Suit Allowance

JustOnce

Hi all,

Just two quick questions, as I've emailed my advisor but he's currently out of contact.

One, does anyone know how much the suit allowance is? (I've heard a maximum of £300).

Two, is the travel to interview allowance and the suit allowance from the same fund? And is there a maximum amount you can claim for interviews travel costs?

Many thanks,

J_O.

McKneff

I didn't know that there was a suit allowance ??? A suit for an interview isn't really necessary. Just something smart.


Travel allowance ?? I think its at the discretion of the Job Centre to be honest.

JustOnce

McKneff wrote: »

I didn't know that there was a suit allowance ??? A suit for an interview isn't really necessary. Just something smart.


Travel allowance ?? I think its at the discretion of the Job Centre to be honest.

A suit for this interview is necessary, hence my question.

Yeah, I've told they'll assist with travel costs. Just I wondered if it came from the same fund as the money for a suit will come from, as train tickets are expensive (ticket for current interview I have lined up is around £100 ) so a few interviews like that will zap up funds if they're limited.

JustOnce

Oh and if anyone knows the processes, shops I can use etc, that would be really helpful!

Caz3121

JustOnce wrote: »

One, does anyone know how much the suit allowance is? (I've heard a maximum of £300).

from another forum (within the last 12 months)
When I got interview clothes last year, what they did was go on matalan website and priced up what I needed, trousers, shirt and shoes and gave a voucher straight away for said clothes.think it is likely to be closer to £100 than £300

this site talks about a loan
Can I get expenses?
You can get a loan from the Jobcentre to help with things like going to interviews, transport to work and smart clothes for interviews. These are called Budgeting Advances.
http://www.thesite.org/money/benefits/jobseekers-allowance-9203.html

your job centre should be where you enquire as I believe some of these are discretionary

JustOnce

Caz3121 wrote: »

from another forum (within the last 12 months)
When I got interview clothes last year, what they did was go on matalan website and priced up what I needed, trousers, shirt and shoes and gave a voucher straight away for said clothes.think it is likely to be closer to £100 than £300

Thanks that's great news, and better than nothing!

It's just I tried on my suit last night and it barely fits (sadly, as it's a £300 Jeff Banks suit so looked reasonably professional)... And the other interviews I've had did not require anything more than business casual but this is a senior post within the CS so I think best I play it conservatively.

I have a sign on interview Monday when I'll push for this, but I was just interested to know what I'm entitled to before hand.

Thanks again for your time

JustOnce

Oh updated links! Thanks for the information about a loan, I knew about allowances for clothes, travel to interview etc, but I was unaware of other loans. That could be handy to consider for relocation costs, if the interest rate is better than offered by my bank.

Doshwaster

£300 allowance for a suit?! I've never spent that much on one in my life. My current "interview suit" was £100 an M&S sale. Tesco or Asda will sell you one for less than half of that.

JustOnce

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Doshwaster wrote: »

£300 allowance for a suit?! I've never spent that much on one in my life. My current "interview suit" was £100 an M&S sale. Tesco or Asda will sell you one for less than half of that.

The two other interviews I've had (where I found out afterwards they had internal candidates, sadly) I've just worn a blazer, trousers and a smart shirt (all in all around 400/500 pounds worth of clothing including shoes).

This is a senior civil servant position where my yearly tax bill will be around 10k, so although I'll take whats available to me, I don't think wearing an expensive suit would be out of the question (as I say, I have one which is currently too tight.).

tomtontom

If you want an expensive suit you'll have to pay for one yourself. I'd be surprised if you even got £100 for a suit.

Have you been on JSA long, are you on the Work Programme?

DaveTheMus

JustOnce wrote: »

Thanks that's great news, and better than nothing!

It's just I tried on my suit last night and it barely fits (sadly, as it's a £300 Jeff Banks suit so looked reasonably professional)... And the other interviews I've had did not require anything more than business casual but this is a senior post within the CS so I think best I play it conservatively.

I have a sign on interview Monday when I'll push for this, but I was just interested to know what I'm entitled to before hand.

Thanks again for your time

So because you've been stuffing your face while you sit around at home the taxpayer should buy you a suit...

Maybe you should sell the expensive suit that you're too plump for and buy yourself a £99 job from NEXT