Just two jobseekers in Stockton North used the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card in the last year, which is a tiny proportion of the 518,000 discounted journeys made across England, Wales and Scotland.
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham is raising awareness about the card to eligible people who have been out of work for 12 weeks or longer. The card offers jobseekers a 50% discount on train fares as they travel to interview, to the job centre, or to and from training.
Commenting on the campaign, Alex said:
“It is great to see Jobcentre plus work together with train companies to give jobseekers that extra bit of support. The cost of travel can sometimes be a barrier to getting to interview and training. It is initiatives like these that are making the difference in getting people into work.”
The initiative is that of the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of Britain’s train companies. To be eligible for the discount card, you either need to be 1) claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit, be aged 18-24 and have been unemployed for 13-39 weeks, or 2) claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit and are 25 or over and have been unemployed for 13-52 weeks, or 3) claiming Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support, and are activity engaged with an advisor in returning to employment.
