People who claim Universal Credit and other benefits may be able to cut their travel costs by up to 50% through a Department for Work and Pensions scheme.
This can be done by getting the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card. The card is available to people claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit if they are looking for work. According to MoneySavingExpert.com, you might also be able to apply if you’ve been claiming Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) for at least three months and are actively looking for work through a Jobcentre.
If you are aged between 18 and 24, and have been unemployed for 13 to 39 weeks, then you will be eligible. Those over 25 can get it if they have been unemployed for 13 to 52 weeks.
You can claim the travel card for free and they are valid for up to three months. However, it’s important to remember that just because you’re on benefits, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get one, reports the Mirror.
You can apply for a travel card at your local Jobcentre Plus and you will need to explain why you need the card. The DWP says the cards are awarded on a case-by-case basis, so to get one you need to speak to Jobcentre staff about your circumstances and they will decide whether you should be issued a card, and if so, how long for.
One reason why you might be refused a card is if transport isn’t as easy or accessible in your area as it is in other areas. If you are refused a card, unfortunately, there’s no way for you to appeal against the decision.
A range of different methods of transport are covered by the card. All train operators in England, Scotland and Wales offer those with the travel card a 50% discount on anytime day tickets, off-peak day tickets and season tickets. This includes Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, ScotRail, South Western Railway and more.
The card also gets half-price single and return tickets on Stagecoach’s 6,500 buses across England, Scotland and Wales, excluding London. National Express does not accept the travel card. Transport for London (TfL) also accepts the card on all of its services including buses, trams, the DLR, the Tube and the Overground network.
If you use it with an Oyster card you can get – 50% off pay-as-you-go fares, seven-day, monthly or longer period (up to three months) travelcards at a child’s rate, and seven-day or monthly bus and tram passes at a child’s rate.
In addition, those on Universal Credit can also apply for The Restart Scheme. It can help cover the costs associated with finding a job, including travel, childcare and other expenses. If you’re on the scheme ask the provider or your work coach about how to claim.
There’s also the Flexible Support Fund to help you with the costs of getting a job. The fund is managed by local Jobcentres and can be used to cover the following costs of job hunting:
- Training for a job, up to £150
- Travel to interviews
- Childcare
- 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