The 2nd of three quick posts ahead of my second Flexible New Deal appointment on Tuesday, this article talks about travel costs – or, when it comes to the JCP, getting blood out of a stone…
Firstly I’ll quickly talk about A4E and Travel Costs. As far as I’m aware, when you’re referred onto FND, and by extension, an external provider, they aren’t under any obligation to refund your travel costs. Luckily for me, my FND provider, A4E are located within walking distance, however when I went for my first appointment, I decided to take the bus. Here’s what the A4E “Promotional booklet” has to say, on the issue of travel costs:
“Expenses“
“When agreeing and reviewing your My Deal plan, your Personal Career Coach will discuss the expenses you may be incurring, such as travel expenses. How much, if any, of these you can claim will be agreed and documented. You’ll need receipts or tickets as proof; you’ll collect anything that you reclaim from your A4e branch; and you’ll need to sign to confirm what you’ve received. Should you require any other support, such as childcare, please speak to your coach, who’ll take you through the system”
So, in reality how does that work? Actually, so far *touches wood* it hasn’t been all that bad (though in all fairness, I have only been to one appointment 
). I brought a “Day Saver”, which allows unlimited bus travel, for £3.30, as that happened to be the cheapest way to get to A4e. aFter my interview, they made a note of the ticket number, gave me my money back, and asked me to bring it back with me, when I next attend, so they can file it, and send it through, I assume, to the JCP.
If only claiming travel expenses from the JCP directly was as simple. My “Initial” Flexible New Deal appointment took place on Monday, October 5th. According to the letter I received, because this appointment wasn’t taking place on a normal signing appointment, I would be able to claim travel expenses – Provided I attended via the cheapest method (which, much like with A4e, happened to be a Day Saver). At the end of my meeting, I mentioned this, and was told that, unfortunately, they hadn’t got any forms “to hand”, and that I needed to hold onto my ticket, bring it back to my next signin-on session, and they’d sort it out.
So, flashforward to October 15th, and after signing-on, I mentioned to the person I was dealing with (who, incidentially – was busy impressing her manager, quizzing me about my jobsearch activities – so inqusitive was she, that she forgot to transfer my details from one system to another, and as a result, my JobSeekers Allowance was delayed by a week) that I’d been told to bring my ticket in, and could I please have my £3.30? She hadn’t got a clue what was going on, and after asking her manager, she told me that “I’d need to book a special appointment, to get my money back”. So I asked her if she’d kindly book me in and she did – for a day that wasn’t during my signing-on “Day”
“Surely I’m gonna be stuck in a loop, if that happens – I’ll be coming in on a non-signing on day, to claim money for a non-signing on day?” After a bit of a think she realised this was correct, and scheduled the appointment, for October 29th.
Eventually I did get my £3.30, but only after being quizzed for 15 mins, and completing a 4 page form – talk about getting blood from a stone.
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[...] Claiming back Travel Costs – Both fromExternal Providers, and the Jobcentre itself. [...]
Will this become an ongoing problem?
If you are owed £3.30 say by attending A4e, arrive to a sign on appointment that you can’t claim travel for, get an appointment on a non-sign on day to get travel back, you can also claim to attend that non-sign on appointment too. Its a pointless waste of money doing it that way.
Hi
It would have been a problem, if it had gone to the original “plan of action” that my local JCP wanted me to follow. However, it seems to have been sorted now, as they arranged for me to get my money back, by scheduling my appointment for the same day that I was due to sign-on, so I was able to reclaim my travel costs, and sign-on at the same time. The scenario you put forward, is what the JCP wanted me to do – until I pointed out to them, that by attending on a non-signing on day, I’d essentially be “hitting the same problem”, and so I’d constantly be stuck claiming £3.30s
As for A4e – Their travel expenses system seems to make a lot more sense – basically here’s what happens:
1: Attend FND Appointment with A4e Advisor – Pay £3.30 for bus ticket.
2: At the end of appointment, A4e make a note of the bus ticket number, then issue me with £3.30 to cover the cost.
3: On my next appointment, I have to bring my old ticket with me, so they can send it through to the Jobcentre, to claim the cost back
So basically I’m not out of pocket at anypoint – All I have to do is remember, at the end of each appointment, to hand over the ticket from my last appointment, so they can file it away, and let them make a note of the ticket number that I purchased to get to that days appointment, so they can make a note of the number.
It’s one of those systems that seems a bit complex – especially when typing it out, but in practice it’s fairly straight forward – at least I hope so
Do you like A4e? if you have signed for money and received it, dont bother handing in the bus receipt… hehe
Do I like A4e? – To be honest, so far I’m not convinced they’re going to be able to offer me anything different to PPDG, and other providers that I’ve had contact with in the past. What I appreciate, at least so far, is that unlike other providers, who have said they’ll be able to get me a job, and then failed to deliever, is that my advisor is at least being realistic and upfront, by saying that they’re really, really going to struggle to find me a job fullstop. As for a “Career” – they’ve already said that’s a no-no – the focus instead is to get a job, and then once I’m “in the door”, work my ass off, to try and progress within the company.
As for the bus tickets – to be honest I don’t see the point – So far I haven’t had any real gripes with them (bar a few which I’ll address in a future post), so I don’t see the point of going out of my way, to make life difficult – I mean, it’s not rocket science to keep a bus ticket, then return it. More importantly, it keeps the Jobcentre off my back, which is always a good thing
Were you given a FND booklet at the Jobcentre which goes on solely about expectations of you and SANCTIONS!?!?
What a joke. You are supposed to get information on what you can expect from your provider.
It’s funny you should mention that – the “Welcome Aboard” booklet that I got a copy of, is all nice and fluffy, and possitive – until you get to the part about possible sanctions, should you not “tow the line”, as it were. It’s quite a change in tone to the remainder of the booklet (If I get 5 mins free today I’ll type that part up)
I bet it didn’t mention about variable sanctions and the extent of sanctions they can apply which aren’t related to behaviour!
FND1 booklet I uploaded to my new site… http://flexible-new-deal.co.uk/2009/09/18/flexible-new-deal-what-you-can-expect/
Sorry wrong link….
http://flexible-new-deal.co.uk/2009/11/01/flexible-new-deal-what-you-can-expect/
FND providers are responsible for your travel costs – see the providers guidance published by DWP, here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/what-we-buy/welfare-to-work-services/provider-guidance/flexible-new-deal-guidance.shtml
Especially section 4, paragraphs 80-81.
4.80 states – When a customer is attending FND activities (including your customer meetings), it is your responsibility to ensure the customer can attend either providing transport or funding the customers travel costs.
4.81 (the really interesting one) states – Please Note: travel expenses you disburse are included within the overall funding received from DWP as part of the overall contract price and are not in addition to the contract price.
Given that, it’s amazing A4e are being so accomodating – I’m dealing with Working Links and they certainly aren’t, see my blog for more details at claimantsactionsouthwales.blogspot.com – ps I’ve linked to this blog, keep up the good work!