THOSE on Universal Credit can claim half price travel using a little-known trick.
Recipients of the benefit can claim the discount on – and it could save you a small fortune.
The JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card is available to those on and sometimes Jobseeker's Allowance.
It's free to apply and cuts the cost of travelling on across , and .
The card is valid for up to three months and is accepted by most train and bus operators including and Stagecoach.
It's designed to help those looking for work travel to job interviews at a lower cost.
To be eligible applicants must:
- Be claiming Universal Credit or e
- Be between 18 and 24 years' old and have been unemployed for 13 to 39 weeks.
- Be aged 25 and over and unemployed for 13 to 52 weeks.
To apply, you'll need to go to a JobCentre Plus office.
You can find your nearest one here.
However, even if you meet these criteria there's no guarantee you'll receive a card as they're handed out at the discretion of coaches.
But, even if you can't get a card it's worth checking if you can get discounted travel tickets with some operators, including Greater Anglia, offering free tickets for those travelling to job interviews.
The train operator's scheme is available to those who have been unemployed for at least six months or have recently left and entitles them to six free fares.
There is other help available for those searching for work and on Universal Credit through the Restart Scheme.
The scheme helps those looking for work to cover costs including childcare and transport.
Your JobCentre work coach can help you make a claim through the scheme, which can also provide support with with skills training, job applications and interview preparation among other things.
Plus, there's the Flexible Support Fund, which is a pot of money that has been put aside by the to help with the costs of getting a job.
The fund is managed by local job centres and distributed at their discretion.
It can be used to cover the following costs of job hunting:
- Training for a job
- Travel to interviews
- Tools for work
- Cost of medical evidence required by a disabled person
- Clothing and uniforms to start work
- Support for single parents in financial emergencies in the first 26 weeks of starting a job.
You can .
Struggling households on Universal Credit can top up their income with 14 freebies and discounts.
From free cash grants to discounts on childcare we have rounded up all the help available .
Benefits include the Warm Home Discount, Household Support Fund and free prescriptions.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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