I'm in a pickle re: job issue

Spendless

Many areas do a daily/weekly/monthly travel fayre pass. Some areas do a combined train/bus (and sometimes tram) one or you might need to get seperate bus and rail travel passes. They usually work out far cheaper than pay daily.

Kim_kim

Predaleko1984 wrote: »

I've done a journey planner on the local transport companies website and it would be two hours there and back by bus only and a week bus pass for the West of England is around £27-30. I wouldn't get home til about 7-30 and would have to be up at 5-30 to leave at 6-00.

Family, my Mum is in a low income situation and my sister is in the process of moving to Plymouth in the next few days. Most of the people I know are retired or work in Weston so that's a no-no.

My alarm goes off between 5.30 & 6.00 am everyday. I work in different offices, so travel times vary.
I rarely get home before 7.00.
It won't kill you sitting on a bus, it's easier than driving!

Torry_Quine

Predaleko1984 wrote: »

I've managed to nab a long-term temporary contract with a position based in Bath.

I honestly applied for it without not thinking they'd bother, and by some kind of miracle I've managed to gain the job. I start the Monday coming.

However I'm in a pickle. I have to get a train then get off and catch a bus. Problem is, I'm on ESA but I can't afford the daily rail and bus fares.

What do I do? I'm 32 years old, and don't qualify for other railcards.

Is this permitted work? If on ESA there are criteria that need to be met before starting a job.

Predaleko1984

I don't have a credit card. I've just paid a £200 loan from Satsuma off that I took out 12 months ago - perhaps borrow of them again just to cover the costs?

I went on ESA as I was advised by a JSA adviser to go on it. I didn't realise I applied for this job, until they rang me and I thought with the references and police checks it wouldn't be until mid December I'd start especially how long they sent.

I don't really think they've took into consideration about it - shall I come clean and say to them the situation re: money, ESA and commuting? I'm willing to do the buses if it means so, but I'm so desperate to work and it is something I want to do as well, adding I want to move out to be nearer to where I'm working and near my family.

paddyrg

The first step is getting to work and starting in work, and that's going to mean buses if your can't afford trains. It's for a couple of weeks, and to keep a job it's worth it. I've had longer committees when I was getting started, they're tiring, but necessary you can't spend money your don't have. Here's my suggestion though...

Weekly tickets are cheap compared with dailies for rush hour. So - first week get a weekly bus ticket, get up early, go to bed early, change your lifestyle to fit the job. You won't see as much of friends and if they're real friends, they'll understand. End of the first week, check in with the boss if you can sub a bit against work you've done already, and make this number the very smallest you can, and only if you're desperate. Look at train season ticket prices - for instance daily open returns from Swindon to Bath are £16.70 and a 7 day season is £65-odd, basically 4 days worth roughly. Ask for "plus bus" tickets and it'll cost you marginally more instead of the full £4. Swindon is just a guess, you don't say where you are, but there may be something like the First group "Zone Freedom" pass, where you get to use the First Group trains and buses within an area for not much more than the train fare alone, it's like "plus bus" but you buy it on the bus to the station. Anyway, if you can get onto one of these packages in week 2 with a small sub, job done (make it small though as it'll be taken from pay packet), if not, get a 7 day bus ticket again and get to payday. When you reach payday, you can plan for monthly tickets which are cheaper again.

Predaleko1984

I'm based in Weston-super-Mare. Bizzarely, there isn't a freedom pass of such down here, yet when I was based in the Midlands I had a good deal of £80 odd of a freedom pass for one month!

I have contacted the agency, and he is going to sort something out with them. The agency did have a role in Bristol, so maybe he will alter it?

sangie595

Good on you for making the effort to get off benefits, so I hope you can sort this small hurdle out. Just make sure you tell ESA when you start work. It would be great not to have another thread on the benefits board about someone forgetting to tell them and ending up in trouble!

I really hope you make something of the job and are able to achieve the goals you have set. Well done!

paddyrg

Predaleko1984 wrote: »

I'm based in Weston-super-Mare. Bizzarely, there isn't a freedom pass of such down here, yet when I was based in the Midlands I had a good deal of £80 odd of a freedom pass for one month!

I have contacted the agency, and he is going to sort something out with them. The agency did have a role in Bristol, so maybe he will alter it?

Zone ABC Freedom covers WSM to Bath (I use it often). Have a look at https://travelwest.info/rail/freedom-travelpass - Zone ABC covers the route, you buy it on the bus at the start and it covers the Bath end bus as well. Bargain, TBH, as it covers bus and train

Predaleko1984

paddyrg wrote: »

Zone ABC Freedom covers WSM to Bath (I use it often). Have a look at https://travelwest.info/rail/freedom-travelpass - Zone ABC covers the route, you buy it on the bus at the start and it covers the Bath end bus as well. Bargain, TBH, as it covers bus and train

Thank you I didn't know they existed! You're a star. I'm still awaiting to hear from the agency, but nothing as of yet. I am unwell too, so money or no money I wouldn't be able to start until Tuesday (chest infection).

It would cover the first week, but I've got electric to top-up and the second week would be a problem. I think we're holding fire and depends if the business I'm working at is willing to wait. Adding to that re: photo-card, aren't they like £5-7 or something like that now? I remember when it was a couple of quid. Rip off merchants.

Kim_kim

Predaleko1984 wrote: »

Thank you I didn't know they existed! You're a star. I'm still awaiting to hear from the agency, but nothing as of yet. I am unwell too, so money or no money I wouldn't be able to start until Tuesday (chest infection).

It would cover the first week, but I've got electric to top-up and the second week would be a problem. I think we're holding fire and depends if the business I'm working at is willing to wait. Adding to that re: photo-card, aren't they like £5-7 or something like that now? I remember when it was a couple of quid. Rip off merchants.

How can you know on Friday you won't be well on Monday?

That you can't start till Tuesday?