To think cycling isn't free and job center should pay milliage

[feellikeahugefailure]

I have to sign on every week. Every other week they pay expenses. It's several busses to get there, so is 14.60 return.

They will pay this bus fare or pay 25p a mile but if you use your bike you get nothing.

When you are on such a limited income ware and tear on the bike does happen and is a big expense also the calories used are an expense. Even just something like 5p a mile should be possible imo.

I was going to use my bike on nice days and I would end up saving the country money and be fitter. But seeing as they pay for the bus fare I would never bike there. Its a reasonably long way and I would need alot of calories after doing the return journey.

Hi all - we're going to move this over to Money Matters at the OPs request.

Lots of companies do pay for cycling mileage. I don't think the OP is BU.

in 4000 miles I have had 3 punctures. That cost me about £36 altogether

Really? I repair them with rubber solution and patches, or stick a new tube in for a fiver.

Depends on the bike though. My road bike tyres need changed every 3000 miles or so.

Yes, because everyone who claims JSA, or any kind of benefit, is faking.

Anyway, they shouldn't need to resort to the expense of CCTV RhodaBull, because as a concerned citizen and hard working taxpayer, you surely reported them?

LimitedPeriod RhodaBull clearly stated that she was signing on herself at the time. Which was why she saw this happening.

I read that. To receive JSA she would have contributed in the past though NI payments - a form of tax.

It is permissible to work while signing on as unemployed. I did it. You declare the dates, the employer and total pay and your JSA is not paid for those dates but your NI is credited. You continue to attend signing-on appointments as usual unless you are working on that day in which case you have to make another appointment with an adviser to explain.

The aim is for you to eventually leave the register. If the work becomes frequent, you cannot with this arrangement, but it is a sensible plan.

Perhaps people saw me in my work clothes and reported me. Or maybe they saw me working. I never heard anything, so if they did, I guess the advisers checked my file and realised that it was a groundless allegation.

JSA staff are on the ball like that. They're capable of looking out of the window or overhearing conversations too.

I also found almost all of them to be human beings and compassionate about the situation many of their claimants found themselves in.

There were one or two unpleasant individuals at the Job Centre. You can't always tell which side of the counter they're going to be on.

I live 17 miles from a job centre and the travel is expensive
It's ridiculous to think a person on JSA could afford to get there

Perhaps I shouldn't have said that. It's such a sensible and humane scheme to wean people off the register that I am amazed it's allowed.

Perhaps Iain Duncan Smith doesn't know about it. I hope his wife isn't a MNetter, because he'll probably abolish it when she tells him.

Still, that will please all those people who lie awake at night fretting that lots of people are fiddling the dole.

For the people who are completely ignorant of the fact, there actually are official HMRC guidelines on paying cycle mileage: up to 20p per mile for business trips is tax free.

www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-business-travel-mileage/rules-for-tax

It is a completely legitimate claim, many companies use it, and it's cheaper to reimburse than any of the alternatives.

I don't see why anyone would consider it more open to abuse than car mileage. There is no evidence you have driven to a place either, or which route you took, or what the miles are. You could equally car share and put in a claim for your own car mileage, and this would get you more money than a fraudulent claim for cycle mileage.

As to whether we should pay pedestrian mileage: I think it's a damn good idea.

Can i just point out if your company pays you for car mileage it barely covers petrol costs, doesn't even touch repairs to a car!

OP don't forget to claim danger money for potential accidents, hydration allowance for all the water you'll need to drink and "wind resistance allowance" for those times where the wind isnt in your favor and you have to pedal extra hard...

I agree bus fare is appropriate for those without cars, but if you can afford to run a car taxed, insured etc you can afford to get to the JC without bloody fuel allowance!

Also FYI, it's very unusual that a company will pay your travel costs to and from work and if you're on minimum wage and only a few hours you're very unlikely to be getting much more money than you would on JSA! DP has a minimum wage, 0 hours contract and is often worse off than he would be on JSA.. no bus fare for him though....

Oh and FYI, just because people don't think you should get bike allowances doesnt automatically mean they look down their noses at people on benefits. I've been in those shoes and thankfully I'm out of it now, but I wouldn't dream of assuming all benefits claimants are somehow sponging off the system. Benefit fraud is rare, but OP your attitude towards it seems to be that you'll be claiming well into summer... worrying.

I also take your point about saving the system money OP, but if you're that concerned about doing that, why not take your bike on nice days anyway? can't imagine the few times you ride your bike to the JC will make any difference what so ever considering JSA is temporary anyway...

About feeding yourself on JSA: At one point I had £14 a week to feed 2 adults, don't think I've ever used my £12 slow cooker as much before or since! We ate homecooked and healthy meals. A head of broccoli is 40p and will do 4 meals. 2 portions in a curry to bulk it out and 2 as a side dish for something else. We bought joints of meat on special offer, ate tons of pork because you can get a big pork joint for £5 on special offer which will do 6 portions over 3 days. Big bags of rice last 4 weeks, use veggies to bulk out all your meals... there's literally so many ways you can eat healthily on a budget. For the PP who said she lived on chips: portion of chips at the chippy 80p minimum? for 80p i could get a whole bag of carrots (28p) a potato (18p) and pork chops for £1.28 per lb, so in total a meal out of that would cost about 85p tops.

Right i've finally had the courage to return to this thread, thanks those of you for the nice and compassionate comments. If you would like to sign at jobhap.com/job-center-wont-pay-milliage-for-bikes/ that would be great. I've started a campaign to try and get this changed and have written to my MP.

OP don't forget to claim danger money for potential accidents, hydration allowance for all the water you'll need to drink and "wind resistance allowance" for those times where the wind isnt in your favor and you have to pedal extra hard... hmm

I'm not sure if your even serious or just trying to be difficult. Gov.uk clearly has guidelines for using a bike and you seem to be very unknowledgable about how travel expenses work. Do you think you can claim more by driving if you drive up a hill?

Benefit fraud is rare, but OP your attitude towards it seems to be that you'll be claiming well into summer... worrying.

This just takes the , its spring now and the weather is nice on some days. Trying to suggest I'm a long term claimant and committing fraud is just not on.