MSE News: Jobseekers encouraged to get 50% off...

DanielDeronda

paragp wrote: »

Hi there, can anybody tell me if this is still valid. I got a "discount" card today but its only valid on TFL Buses and Trams and not the underground. The jobcenter plus have told me this is the only one they have to give out. Has Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card been discountinued? thank you

I got issued the JCP Travel Discount card on 22 November for 3 months, I had to kick up a bit of a fuss with my job coach to say it was necessary that I get the card, for interviews in London. It's very random how this card get issued & is up to the discretion of the specific job coach/manager (and also how long they issue it for).

DanielDeronda

Is this card purely for interviews? I've been using it mainly for interviews, but also travel by train a lot outside of interviews (don't drive), so have benefited from some cheaper fares for leisure as well. Never been checked on what I'm using the card for. In the end, it's saving me money.

katsu

GWR & TFL websites that talk about the railcard talk about how to use it. Nothing about needing to be on a particular kind of journey so I can't see any issues with leisure travel as well as interviews.

tgroom57

It's counterproductive to expect the Jobcentre staff to administer such a scheme - it's extra work for them and my impression was that the Jobcentre mindset is wrong for this.  It would be far more useful (to me) if it was a general Low Income scheme, administered in the same way as the free glasses & dental treatment on NHS Low Income scheme. 
Generally, while I was unemployed I travelled as little as possible, but it would have been nice to see family more often (train ride) as being unemployed can be very isolating.

DanielDeronda

I am currently on Universal Credit & my Disabled Railcard expired in December 2020 & I've only had one train journey since, so I haven't renewed it.

I was wondering if anyone knew whether this JobCentre+ Travel Discount Card still existed, I've not read anything online & my work coach wasn't 100% sure either, he mentioned that I could get support for commuting in the 1st month of starting a new job but didn't know if the railcard still existed.

I just want to confirm this JobCentre Railcard doesn't exist any more before I decide to renew my Disabled Railcard (only for a year at a time until train travel & COVID is fully relaxed).

KeithP

DanielDeronda said:

I am currently on Universal Credit & my Disabled Railcard expired in December 2020 & I've only had one train journey since, so I haven't renewed it.

I was wondering if anyone knew whether this JobCentre+ Travel Discount Card still existed, I've not read anything online & my work coach wasn't 100% sure either, he mentioned that I could get support for commuting in the 1st month of starting a new job but didn't know if the railcard still existed.

I just want to confirm this JobCentre Railcard doesn't exist any more before I decide to renew my Disabled Railcard (only for a year at a time until train travel & COVID is fully relaxed).

www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/jobcentre-plus-card

DanielDeronda

KeithP said:

DanielDeronda said:

I am currently on Universal Credit & my Disabled Railcard expired in December 2020 & I've only had one train journey since, so I haven't renewed it.

I was wondering if anyone knew whether this JobCentre+ Travel Discount Card still existed, I've not read anything online & my work coach wasn't 100% sure either, he mentioned that I could get support for commuting in the 1st month of starting a new job but didn't know if the railcard still existed.

I just want to confirm this JobCentre Railcard doesn't exist any more before I decide to renew my Disabled Railcard (only for a year at a time until train travel & COVID is fully relaxed).

www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/jobcentre-plus-card

I've seen that, but it doesn't say when the page was last updated.  I'll contact my work coach to see if it still exists.