Jobseekers should never be stuck for transport over the festive period thanks to the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card.
From visiting family, carrying out shopping to attending job interviews, public transport is a lifeline for getting around. But fares can be a significant outgoing, especially when money is scarce, and in order to ease the impact of travel costs some benefit recipients including those on Universal Credit are able to get a discount on selected rail tickets and bus journeys in England, Wales and Scotland.
The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card is provided free of charge to those who are unemployed and have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3 to 9 months, if they are 18-24 years old. For over 25s, this raises to 3 to 12 months.
The card, worth up to 50% off travel, is valid for up to 3 months at any one time.
The Flexible Support Fund can also help with travel costs and is managed by local job centres – it can help people to pay for travel to interviews, new clothes for work and training courses. The fund is discretionary and doesn’t have to be paid back.
Minister for Welfare Delivery Will Quince said:
“We want to ensure there are absolutely no barriers for those seeking employment. Public transport can be vital for people who are looking for work, and the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card cuts the costs.
“More than half a million journeys were made using the card last year – just another way we are helping people to save money and find work.
Article continues below this advertisement “And obviously there’s the savings for people visiting families over the holidays as an additional bonus.”
To find out if you qualify contact your work coach.
Don’t think the island busses accept them
Should be for looking for jobs only, not shopping or visiting family, give up smoking, drink or drugs
All people on benefits should keep receipts of what the money is spent on just like self employed people then if it doesn’t match up cut the money
Job centre should tell you about this, I was out of work for 4 weeks spent lots on travel to find work
Just get a car, it’s not that hard to save up….
These lazy people have all the time in the world to walk or cycle to any pub, betting shop, or mates home ‘for a bit of geer’, so they don’t need this.