universal credit - are the current travel expenses outdated?

ruspj

hi

im currently claiming universal credit.

the local job centers were closed a few years back to save money resulting in the local job center being arround 9 miles from home.

since starting to claim last year i am now expected to attend the job center weekly and also attend a help to work scheme weekly (also about 9 miles from home).

when asked to cover the travel expenses for these visits i was offered 25p/mile

i am unsure when they set travel expenses to 25p/mile but i do not thimk it would cover the cost per mile of keeping any car on the road at current prices.

after looking for details on what year this rate was set i can find much other than forum post on here from back in 2007 saying it was 25p/mile back then.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/367396/job-centre-mileage-allowance/p1

i think the price of fuel and other costs associated with keeping a car on the road have gone up more than a little since 2007

can anyone tell me when this rate was set to 25p/mile and anything official i can use to prove this to the job center

am i being unreasonable to expect them to cover the full cost of travel with them running me arround for so much meaningless busy work

tomtom256

Thats what the travel expenses rate is. They could just pay your bus fares instead.

Like most things benefit related, they don't really increase inline with anything else.

ruspj

was just a bit amazed when i realised how out of date the expenses they are paying are

demanding people travel then covering the costs based on 2007 calculations is just disgusting

they are happy to increase travel expenses in line with bus prices by paying the price on a ticket - why would driving costs be any different

NedS

The published fuel advisory rates (11p to 22p per mile) seem to suggest 25p per mile will still more than cover your fuel costs, unless you have the most uneconomical of large SUVs, but certainly not as generous as it was 15 years ago.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advisory-fuel-rates

sammyjammy

Formal mileage rates don't tend to change, I've worked for my employer 31 years and the rate of mileage hasn't changed once in that time!

ruspj

thanks NedS but i dont think the 25p is just meant to cover fuel costs.

if they are demanding that i take extra journeys shouldnt they be covering the full cost per mile of keeping a car on the road such as contributing towards brakes, tyres, and other neccesary maintenance.

unsure if it is meant to contribute towards the cost of tax and insuranceas these do not increase with additional miles.

if i was getting busses their costs would have also been incresing over time and they would have no issue paying the full ticket price not just an estimate of how much of this contributes towards fueling the bus.

whizzywoo

If an employee were to use their own car and use their own fuel for company business, then the employer would be able to reimburse that employee 45p for every business mile travelled.  The 45p per mile paid to the employee is not taxed.  If the employer does not reimburse the full 45p then the employee can claim tax relief on the difference.

This 45p per mile is meant to cover fuel, wear and tear, depreciation and any additional insurance.  There IS additional insurance because on you must inform the insurance company that you are using the car for employer's business use and they make an additional charge for it.   Also most policies want you to state the mileage you do each year, so increased mileage leads to increased insurance.

The 45p per mile was set many years ago possibly as long as 20 years.  Therefore the government in the form of HMRC are aware that the overall costs of running a car must average at least 45p per mile and probably more now because it has never been adjusted for inflation.

It follows that the 25p per mile allowed by DWP is very unfair especially to jobseekers in areas where the local jobcentre is several miles away and in rural areas may have a very limited bus service.

I suggest that the Opening Poster brings this to the attention of their MP.

NedS

ruspj said:

thanks NedS but i dont think the 25p is just meant to cover fuel costs.

if they are demanding that i take extra journeys shouldnt they be covering the full cost per mile of keeping a car on the road such as contributing towards brakes, tyres, and other neccesary maintenance.

unsure if it is meant to contribute towards the cost of tax and insuranceas these do not increase with additional miles.

if i was getting busses their costs would have also been incresing over time and they would have no issue paying the full ticket price not just an estimate of how much of this contributes towards fueling the bus.

As was pointed out earlier, they will reimburse you for the cheapest method of transport available to you. If that is by public transport then your costs will be reimbursed in full. If you do not consider 25p/mile is covering your motoring costs, I would investigate the bus and/or train timetables which will be reimbursed in full.

tomtom256

ruspj said:

thanks NedS but i dont think the 25p is just meant to cover fuel costs.

if they are demanding that i take extra journeys shouldnt they be covering the full cost per mile of keeping a car on the road such as contributing towards brakes, tyres, and other neccesary maintenance.

unsure if it is meant to contribute towards the cost of tax and insuranceas these do not increase with additional miles.

if i was getting busses their costs would have also been incresing over time and they would have no issue paying the full ticket price not just an estimate of how much of this contributes towards fueling the bus.

Thats exactly what it is paid for, hence the receipt for fuel needed to cover the whole amount of the award.

Whether that is fair or not is down to the government who set the rates.

ruspj

whizzywoo said:

I suggest that the Opening Poster brings this to the attention of their MP.

found a reasonable looking template at https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/policy-campaigns/our-campaigns/campaign-toolkit/how-to-write-to-your-mp/

would you really expect any results from sending emails like this or only if a lot of people send?

edited to cover the issue & just sent ( edited the MP & my name/addresss before posting here )

Dear LOCAL MP

16/03/2022

My name is MY NAME and I’m writing to you today as i am currently unemployed and claiming universal credit.i currently expected to attend both the job centre and a help to work scheme weekly. i am not complaining about these activities but the costs of this much travel demanded by the job centre is starting to mount up. when asked about travel expenses i am offered 25p per mile which appears to have been set back before 2007 when fuel and other costs were significantly different. at current prices this barely covers fuel never mind all of the other costs associated with the travel. as i am currently unemployed i hope you can understand that finances can be a struggle without aditional travel being demanded by the jobcentre without them fully covering the costs.

I would like you to highlight this issue with the department of work and penssions and request that they either.

review and update the price per mile paid in travel expenses to fully cover the cost of travel for for universal credit and other benefit claims, or justify why they believe that travel to mandatory appointments set by job centres ahould be paid based on such outdated prices leaving the unemployed to cover the rest of the expense out of their own pockets.

Please respond to my letter and outline the steps you intend to take to address my concerns. If applicable, please escalate my letter to the relevant parliamentarian or department and keep me informed of any progress.

I look forward to hearing your response in due course.

Yours sincerely,

MY NAME

MY ADDRESS

kaMelo

ruspj said:

whizzywoo said:

I suggest that the Opening Poster brings this to the attention of their MP.

found a reasonable looking template at https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/policy-campaigns/our-campaigns/campaign-toolkit/how-to-write-to-your-mp/

would you really expect any results from sending emails like this or only if a lot of people send?

edited to cover the issue & just sent ( edited the MP & my name/addresss before posting here )

It would, I suspect, get the same level of attention as every petition started on gov.uk. In other words, none at all.

The bottom line is this.
Option 1. Go by car and receive 25p per mile expenses.
Option 2. Go by public transport and get your entire fare refunded.
Option 3. N/A, choose one from Options 1 or 2.