surely, having no money for transport, is a valid reason to not be able to sign on tomorrow?

[Tortoise]

I put £5 aside for tomorrow to get the train to go and sign on ( lone parent jsa). But checked earlier and only have £2 left on electric pre pay meter so I have had to put my last £5 on that.

So, phoned job centre to say I can't get in to sign on tomorrow only to be told it may not be considered a valid excuse (as she called it). And I wouldn't get my benefits until I can get there to sign on and I would most likely lose money.

I've already have to do without much food yesterday day so that dc had enough to eat. No money until Thursday child tax credits.

I will ask about postal signing.
Boyfriend is single dad with a 4 Yr old so struggles on benefits too at the moment. He had to give up work to have custody of his DS.
Getting the 11 o'clock train. Then have to hang around after signing on until 2pm train!

glad you got it sorted!

Glad its all sorted. I have to travel 20 mile round trip each day to work and back which is nothing I know but have to prioritise my petrol money £15 a week or I couldn't get to work to earn money.

If you carn't sign on via postal service then perhaps its worth thinking about the travel fare in a similar way. You carn't run the risk of not signing on.

If you find you are running low, you must make sure to apply for a crisis loan BEFORE you get into this situation again because not appearing for your appointment, if you have to appear in person, isn't an option.

Even if you do have a medical emergency, doctor's note, unless you show them it before you sign on, they cut off your benefits immediately.

You can do a rapid reclaim, but the problem is that they immediately notify the council and your HB and CTB, which are paid in arrears, are stopped, which immediately puts you in rent/council tax arrears.