AIBU

[nc99100]

AIBU to keep flogging this dead horse?
DP is a doctor. There is a travel expense policy which says if you travel more than 40miles from your base hospital (DP does this) and own your own home (we don't) then you get travel paid for- about £300-400 a month.

So we don't get the money reimbursed by DP's colleagues, who own their home, do. Even though it's same job, same distance.

We are only 27- halfway to raising a deposit but doesn't help spending thousands a year on travel. DP was placed at this hospital- wasn't a choice.

We can't move closer to the hospital as I work 40 miles in the other direction so we are halfway between at the moment.

No other hospital in the country has this rule (as far as we can ascertain from reading every bloody policy available online)

I have complained to HR who have said tough luck. Don't know whether it is literally tough luck or whether it would be worth pursuing via health education england or the union. Apparently others have fought in the past but it's the rule.

Help please wise ones!

That should say we aren't reimbursed BUT DP's colleagues are, not by her colleagues.

And 27 as in years old

Apparently others have fought in the past but it's the rule.

Presumably they didn't win?

On the face of it, it seems a strange rule, I'll grant you. But I suppose the argument is that it's easier for renters to move to a property within closer commuting distance than for someone to sell their home to do so.

That's bloody odd, dh gets everything reimbursed which is not to his base hospital, even when it's closer.

How strange!

How can they pay travel if you own a home but not if you don't, I just can't understand the thinking behind that

How would they know if you own the home - do they ask to see deeds?

He could maybe claim for mileage in a tax return? It's 45p a mile AFAIK

He could certainly claim the tax relief if he filled in the self-assessment form.

Surely, you can only claim for travelling expenses from your 'base' to wherever else you are asked to work, or have I misunderstood?

Certainly when I was a peripatetic teacher, I could claim for travel between schools, but not for travel to the first school and not from the last back home. Or is it simply because you rent, in which case there's no logic to that.

They've fought in the past but not legally I doubt as it would probably cost more in legal fees than travel expenses which is why I wouldn't bother even though it is definitely against the equality act.

Apparently they literally do ask for proof- plus we've made it pretty obvious we rent by complaining so much!!

What is this tax thing? That sounds promising- how would we go about that?

Thanks for the replies

Foxy it's because you are on a two year contract and first year the hospital was where we live and second year the one 40 miles away so the first hospital you work at counts as your base- it's a bit confusing! We are definitely eligible based on the mileage but it's just the house owning that makes us ineligible

Just checked it isn't tax deductible sadly :(

Just find the GMC rep and ask them to fund a decent employment lawyer. My ex (doctor) was once loftily informed that the overtime she worked had been converted to toil. Quick chat with the rep, her colleagues instituted an ot ban and the manager concerned begged her to take the money and not to telll anyone it happened. She took the money and wrote to the chief exec and grassed the manager up.

Never cross my ex, she's vindictive.

More tax guidance here
I would be very surprised if the NHS pays expenses which are not tax deductible. If you cannot claim the mileage as a tax expense, then those getting their expenses paid should be taxed on them. It is very unusual for employers to pay expenses for non-tax deductible items.

Rules are the rules I'm afraid