Local MP raises awareness of travel card aimed at helping jobseekers
Local MP Ian Lucas is supporting an initiative by the Rail Delivery Group to raise awareness about a travel discount card that helps lower the cost of finding work.
The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card is available to eligible people in England, Wales and Scotland 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 interviews, to the Jobcentre, and to and from training, for up to three months at a time.
Nationally, between March 2017 and March 2018, 518,822 discounted journeys were made by jobseekers, with 33 jobseekers having taken advantage of the discount card’s benefits in Wrexham.
Mr Lucas said: “The cost of travel is a barrier to getting to interviews and training and can prevent people from gaining new employment. Initiatives like these can make the difference in getting people the opportunity to secure new employment.
“I want my Wrexham constituents to be made aware of this travel card so that more of them can take advantage of it if they need to.”
The Gov.uk guidance on the card reads: “This is provided to those unemployed claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3-9 months (18-24 year olds) or 3-12 months (over 25s). Other benefit recipients may receive a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card from 3 months of their claim and if they are actively engaged with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. Cardholders are entitled to a 50% discount on selected rail tickets.”
You need to go to your local Jobcentre Plus to apply for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card.
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