JSA people should get bus passes and winter fuel allowances

[fecklessswonder]

just had to lend bil money for heating and travel as he's on JSA after loosing his job due to mental health issues and his savings have dried up after almost a year.

He thinks that many weeks he spends more on travel than JSA pay! Thank god he has a family who can help him, I feel very sorry for people that don't have someone to help out.

If it can go to people with thousands in the bank then yes, it should go to people who genuinely need it.

especially when they get sanctioned for not affording the bus fare to the meetings.

Bil has to get two buses to sign on, costs 14 quid! That's two days JSA and there is no help for it

I'm assuming the stress has a detrimental affect on top of his mental health problems?

Yes JC wont refund your fares if your just signing.

how much is a weekly bus pass? it may work out cheaper

or a bike? (I used to cycle everywhere when skint as buses where too expensive)

I think people on JSA are very poor but unlike those on DLA or IS they can work (not saying it's easy or they are lazy btw) - maybe a weekly travel pass would be a good idea not sure about WFA

YANBU it's ridiculous that comfortably-off pensioners get it, but young people and families in need don't. Tories keeping their majority voters happy though init. - but YABU where is he travelling to that costs him £70 a week?

Oh, there is an expectation that you walk to the JC.

Presumably, the fares don't cost £70 a week but I can quite see how they would take a very significant chunk out of a very insignificant amount.

I don't like the idea of free travel though. However I would favour the amount being added to a weekly amount if proof of an interview is provided.

Not immediately helpful, but he / you should also look at the Warm Home Discount scheme. Ask your energy supplier. It is around £130 off your heating bill if you are on certain benefits / low income. Worth looking into, many people don't know about this.

ghostylovesheep

how much is a weekly bus pass? it may work out cheaper

round here we have 3 different bus operators, none of which will accept the others tickets/passes. Depending on route, our son once had to take 3 buses needing 3 £4 tickets.

If he has mental health problems he should not be required to 'sign on' each week? Has he a diagnosis? If so, get his GP to sign him off sick for six months and apply for ESA.

Yes JC expect you to walk regardless but you are not bu especially if they bring in this signing on everyday. Bus fare to my nearest JC is £4.30 or 3mile walk via some busy dual carriage way.

That's crap Lurking good old privatisation :(

we used to be able to provide bus passes for our NEET young people but our budget has been cut so much we now can't.

It's bad enough being out of work without being penalised financial just for trying to find work or sign on

Oh, there is an expectation that you walk to the JC.

Fine if you live in the same town or city. Our "local" job centre is 6 miles away and a £6.50 return bus trip.

My nearest JC is 8 miles aways, It would cripple me financially if I had to drive there everyday.

Why no WFA for lone parents on benefits? Yes we get more income than single persons claiming JSA but we have more outgoings too as dependants cost money. A lot of lone parents I know cannot afford to have the heating on this winter, especially those on meters.

Agreed OP.
Especially if the JC is 10 miles away (as it is here). They can't possibly expect people to walk, can they?

Our JC covers a geographical area of over 100 miles, rural, with limited public transport. Huge stretches of it with no pavement.

I certainly couldnt walk it.

Our bus service do I think it is 50% off for people on jsa so a day rider is only £2 for them or a megarider £6.75

If you're in London, you can get a Job Centre Plus discount added to your Oyster (has to be a registered one) and that gets you half price PAYG fares.

Does nowhere else have a concessionary scheme?

Shadows lone parents can claim for WFA if your on IS it depends on energy supplier but most of major ones give it, you apply directly with the supplier and allowance is £142 even if your on a key metre you can still apply.

Everyone is fucked by transport costs. I pay £400 a month to get to work. The solution is to make it affordable to everyone rather than free to some and not to others.

what about disabled people. they should get WFA as well.