How far are A4E legally allowed to make you travel for appointments?

me123456789

The other day I had A4E or people plus, whatever drag me into their office to do an internet jobsearch that I do at home anyway and already send my adviser screenshots of everything,as well as showing the jobcentre-this jobsearch thing was at an office 30 miles away from my house-according to google maps it's a 40 minute drive (in practise it's more like an hour and a half because the traffic is horrendous) but from next week I have to use public transport as it's my mum's car and the appointment clashes with my mum's work-the journey time on public transport varies from 1 hr 32 minutes to 2 hr 40 minutes depending on the time of day but most times it's more than 2 hours (I live in the country, we have a crap bus service lol) I remember reading somewhere that they can't make you travel more than a certain distance just to attend a routine appointment but I now can't find this information anywhere-before some idiot makes a !!!!!y comment I wouldn't mind travelling 4 hours to an interview for a half decent job but this exercise is a complete waste of my time.
Also does anyone know if theres an alternative benefit you can claim if you are working less than 16 hours a week and studying? I know they've stopped giving tax credits to the people who actually need them...I well want to get off jsa but I'm ridiculously shy,come across really badly in interviews and to make matters worse I have a criminal record...besides I actually really like my part time job and don't particularly want to quit it.

Londonsu

me123456789 wrote: »

The other day I had A4E or people plus, whatever drag me into their office to do an internet jobsearch that I do at home anyway and already send my adviser screenshots of everything,as well as showing the jobcentre-this jobsearch thing was at an office 30 miles away from my house-according to google maps it's a 40 minute drive (in practise it's more like an hour and a half because the traffic is horrendous) but from next week I have to use public transport as it's my mum's car and the appointment clashes with my mum's work-the journey time on public transport varies from 1 hr 32 minutes to 2 hr 40 minutes depending on the time of day but most times it's more than 2 hours (I live in the country, we have a crap bus service lol) I remember reading somewhere that they can't make you travel more than a certain distance just to attend a routine appointment but I now can't find this information anywhere-before some idiot makes a !!!!!y comment I wouldn't mind travelling 4 hours to an interview for a half decent job but this exercise is a complete waste of my time.

Its 90 minutes I believe but not sure if that's travelling time - or also includes time waiting or a bus or train if the services do not connect or you miss one

missapril75

me123456789 wrote: »

...A4E...

tomtontom

Londonsu wrote: »

Its 90 minutes I believe but not sure if that's travelling time - or also includes time waiting or a bus or train if the services do not connect or you miss one

The ninety minutes refers to the distance the claimant must agree to search for work in. If the OP has been mandated to attend the WP and there is no closer office then I can't see that they have grounds for complaint, although they can claim their travel costs.

me123456789

They mandated me to attend it-I think there is an office in a town 20 miles in the other direction from where I live which might be slightly easier to get to there used to be but they don't seem to know whether there still is or not...it's in my county whereas their office is not, if that helps...

specialboy

Quit signing on and just do your part time job, saves wasting everyone's time since you seem reluctant to get a proper job.

BigAunty

me123456789 wrote: »

Also does anyone know if theres an alternative benefit you can claim if you are working less than 16 hours a week and studying? ...

Unfortunately, the benefit system generally doesn't offer much in the way of top-up benefits to single people without disabilities or dependents.

There does seem to be a built in expectation that they should work full time to support themselves (because of the absence of things like tax credits for this group if they work part time).

However, if you are a tenant, you could receive HB or council tax discount (which doesn't have conditionality based on hours worked).

me123456789 wrote: »

I well want to get off jsa but I'm ridiculously shy,come across really badly in interviews and to make matters worse I have a criminal record....

Have you looked into any treatment or support for your shyness? I'm thinking of things like counselling, online courses, mobile apps that offer hypnotherapy for confidence/social anxiety, local support groups and the like.

Are there any charities that assist those with criminal records into employment?

Have you identified when your criminal record is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and your particular offences will no longer appear on Disclosure/DBS certificates?

Perhaps other posters can suggest other ways to address the actual issues that are preventing better employment?

me123456789 wrote: »

besides I actually really like my part time job and don't particularly want to quit it.

Many people have a regular job and do some part time self employment on top.

Have you looked into self employment, providing a service that fits in with your interests and constraints? Many people with MH issues and criminal records, and other groups that are shunned by employers, go this route.

There are a lot of websites that suggest business ideas for self employment with low or no entry costs. Just to pluck a few things out of the air - cleaning, gardening, dog-walking.

If you are a certain age, there are charities like the Princes Trust that can provide mentoring, loans and support into self employment.

rogerblack

I have not looked at the statutory framework for requiring work-related activity under JSA.

I know under ESA, there is a requirement that such activity will make it more likely for the claimant to retain, or obtain work.

Any WRA that doesn't meet this criteria is not WRA.

Is this legally a requirement for JSA?