Claiming travelling expenses when attending an interview whilst unemployed

DanielDeronda

I am currently claiming new style JSA & have had a few interviews that have meant Ice had to take a train or a taxi from the station to reach the office of the company.
During previous claims, there was the travel to interview scheme, but I couldn't find anything on gov.uk website.
What schemes, if any, exist currently to offer support for travelling to interviews?

marliepanda

DanielDeronda wrote: »

I am currently claiming new style JSA & have had a few interviews that have meant Ice had to take a train or a taxi from the station to reach the office of the company.
During previous claims, there was the travel to interview scheme, but I couldn't find anything on gov.uk website.
What schemes, if any, exist currently to offer support for travelling to interviews?

Most of it is discretionary, so you’d need to ask your advisor. There’s certainly things about cheap railcards but that would need to be applied for before your journey, not after.

When taking taxis would a bus have been available? They won’t oay for a taxi if a bus had been possible.

DanielDeronda

I already have a disabled railcard, entitling me to 33% off most train fares. I'll bring it up with my work coach at my next signing-on. There were shuttle buses but only available to employees. There were no bus stops nearby.

diggingdude

When I had a job interview whilst unemployed 7 years ago I was told to forget this well paid job that I am qualified for because, and I quote "there's a part time porter job available in town". Last time I was prepared to be insulted by that lot and never asked about travel assistance again. I hope there is something for you because i strongly feel people should be supported to get into work.

Danday

I thought that payments made under the 'JSA' criteria were to cover travel to and from interviews as would income whilst working be used?
Or is it that the DWP pay claimants to find a job on top of the benefit they already receive?

NeilCr

Briefing paper from HoC in October 2016 which gives information on the FSF scheme.

As marliepanda says it is discretionary

http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06079/SN06079.pdf

Nannytone

Danday wrote: »

I thought that payments made under the 'JSA' criteria were to cover travel to and from interviews as would income whilst working be used?
Or is it that the DWP pay claimants to find a job on top of the benefit they already receive?

You are completely right.

these people are paid £73 a week so why can't they pay all their living expenses and food and clothing and pay for their own travel as well?

If they're interview is 20 or 30 miles away then they should have thought about that first shouldn't they and not eaten for a week to pay for it

Ames

I think the biggest problem will be that new style JSA isn't means tested. I'd expect further financial support to only be available to people on income related benefits.

tomtom256

Ask your work coach about the flexible support fund, make sure you provide proof of the interview i.e. letter or email and proof of the travel.

If you need it in advance provide proof of the letter and they should do an upfront payment.

Hoogle

Nothing wrong in asking, however taxis are probably not covered. Our local buses and job centre do an unemployed travel card scheme where it gives you half price bus travel. Which is good if you only use a bus a couple of times a week/month but it may be cheaper to get a weekly/monthly bus ticket And try and get all your interviews close together ie if you have 3 job interviews all in town centre then you can have an am/lunchtime/afternoon interview on the same day resulting in only 1 return ticket needed. I understand not everyone can cope with multiple interviews.

Tommo1980

You really don't have a clue do you....

I don't know what world you live in, but it ain't the same one as the rest of us.