Unemployed given free bus travel for a month

12:40pm Tuesday 1st January 2013 in News By Tom Edwards

THOUSANDS of unemployed people across Worcestershire are being given free bus travel for the whole of January.

People on unemployment benefits for between three months and a year can travel across the county and beyond without paying a single penny.

The Bus for Jobs scheme, which will help about 3,300 people in the county and up to 800,000 nationwide, is aimed at encouraging job hunters to attend interviews.

All routes covered by operators First, Arriva and the National Express have signed up to the scheme, taking in almost every service in Worcestershire.

That includes most routes in Worcester, Malvern, Great Malvern, Droitwich, Pershore, Evesham and outerlying journeys such as Stratford, Rubery, Kidderminster and Bridgnorth.

Stagecoach, which provides services in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Birmingham, has also signed up, so jobseekers can go into other counties if they need to.

It has been launched by the Department for Transport, which says 70 per cent of routes in the UK are covered for the whole month.

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways and transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “I think it’s fantastic and hope it makes a difference.

“I sit on a charity in Evesham and we’re often getting people come to us and say they’ve got a job interview in Worcester or somewhere like that but can’t afford the fare.

“It is a real problem and we try to help them out. Buses are not cheap these days and the costs of getting around can be an issue.”

It is being done in conjunction with Greener Journeys, a body which represents an alliance of bus and coach service providers.

Claire Haigh, chief executive of the group, said: “In difficult economic times, this scheme will provide a helpful start to the new year, enabling job hunters to travel around more easily in search of work, to job interviews with prospective employers and to training courses which will help them find work.”

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Good bus services play a huge role in boosting economic growth.”

The latest data shows 10,114 people in the county are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, 552 fewer than at the same stage last year.

People interested in the offer are being asked to contact their local JobCentre Plus.

Comment: Page 14

Comments(29)

Braceyx says...
2:39pm Tue 1 Jan 13

I dont know why i bother working! I am visually impaired and i am never going to be able to drive and I work full time. Although i am never going to be able to drive and my vision will never be improved, im not even entitled to a free vision test every year let alone a free bus pass! i havent claimed anything in my life! If i sat on my backside all day, claiming off everyone else. I could then travel for free? If you havent got a job why the hell would you need a free bus pass? You only have to sign on once a fortnight!!! really what has the government come to?????.

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CJH says...
3:29pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Braceyx wrote:
I dont know why i bother working! I am visually impaired and i am never going to be able to drive and I work full time. Although i am never going to be able to drive and my vision will never be improved, im not even entitled to a free vision test every year let alone a free bus pass! i havent claimed anything in my life! If i sat on my backside all day, claiming off everyone else. I could then travel for free? If you havent got a job why the hell would you need a free bus pass? You only have to sign on once a fortnight!!! really what has the government come to?????.
It's not so they can go on holiday, it's to get to interviews and look for work! As stated in the article.

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Jabbadad says...
3:39pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Yes it'a an excellent scheme and clever since those who are supposed to be looking for work and had used I can't get there because I have no money excuse (and many genuine ones find themselves in this situation as well) have now lost that excuse, but it will also help the genuine people as well.

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Braceyx says...
4:38pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Not talking about genuine people! Dont people get enough benefits from the taxpayers to pay a couple of quid to get on a bus for a job interview!!! Absoulutley disgusting! I know of genuine people who havent had work and i only hope that i would never be out of work but this is one step too far!

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pinkfluff says...
4:52pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Braceyx wrote:
Not talking about genuine people! Dont people get enough benefits from the taxpayers to pay a couple of quid to get on a bus for a job interview!!! Absoulutley disgusting! I know of genuine people who havent had work and i only hope that i would never be out of work but this is one step too far!
Try not to get disheartened, I know it's frustrating but you are contributing to society and not taking from it. Money can't buy pride, it comes from within. Be proud you do the right thing.

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CJH says...
5:40pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Braceyx wrote:
Not talking about genuine people! Dont people get enough benefits from the taxpayers to pay a couple of quid to get on a bus for a job interview!!! Absoulutley disgusting! I know of genuine people who havent had work and i only hope that i would never be out of work but this is one step too far!
You did not specify a 'type' of jobseeker, you made an all encompassing judgemental statement without troubling the facts too much. And it certainly is not for you to decide what is a 'genuine' case.

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Braceyx says...
7:17pm Tue 1 Jan 13

i didnt say it was!!!! All i am saying is it is absolute joke that considering my circumstances i am not entitled to a free bus pass yet they are being handed out to the unemloyed! Im not on about genuine cases! Is mine not genuine enough then! There are also a lot of other people in similar situations to me! Its all about unemloyment what do the employed people get??? Its awful for people to unemloyed i only can imagine but as i say in my situation this is rather frustating. Like you i am entitled to my opinion its not about who is right and who is wrong. These are just my feelings.

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CJH says...
7:31pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Braceyx wrote:
i didnt say it was!!!! All i am saying is it is absolute joke that considering my circumstances i am not entitled to a free bus pass yet they are being handed out to the unemloyed! Im not on about genuine cases! Is mine not genuine enough then! There are also a lot of other people in similar situations to me! Its all about unemloyment what do the employed people get??? Its awful for people to unemloyed i only can imagine but as i say in my situation this is rather frustating. Like you i am entitled to my opinion its not about who is right and who is wrong. These are just my feelings.
What do the employed people get? Err...a job, money, security?

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lettysmith says...
7:51pm Tue 1 Jan 13

I am also unwell. I have rhumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and care for my mentally ill son. I am also training to work in education. I think this scheme is a great idea and wish these people all the luck in the world. I do not begrudge anyone just because I am not entitled myself.Not everyone out of work choses to be. Jobs are scarce at the moment.

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Trisha54 says...
8:04pm Tue 1 Jan 13

Perhaps the Government would like to give me a free bus pass so that I can get to work rather than walk as I do now as I don't earn enough to be able to take the bus, then maybe I could go further afield to find work,, instead of having to take two part time jobs one of which starts at 4 o clock in the morning.They shouldn't be throwing tax payers money away willy nilly unless they are prepared to follow up on its success, which I doubt very much they will do.
Another set of empty gestures to imply they are getting to the bottom of the jobless figures but I know of one or two who will use this as a means to travel around the country at their leisure for they have never worked, don't want to work and as long as the state will keep them will never even try to get employment

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Braceyx says...
10:35pm Tue 1 Jan 13

I'm not begrudging anyone of anything as I feel fortunate to have a job and genuinely feel for those struggling to find a job and support themselves in which yes getting a free bus pass would benefit them. Unemployment wasn't what I was getting at. What I am getting at is it is a bit of a slap in the face when I have fought long and hard. The government not considering everyone else.

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cressylock says...
11:01pm Tue 1 Jan 13

What happens if they do get the job? Do they have to ask for an advance to pay for the bus fair? I'm sorry but if they can't make it to an interview without help, then they won't make it to work.

I remember, when I was a lad, walking with my heavily pregnant mother all the way from St Johns to Ronkswood for a check up (approx. 2.5 miles each way!)

Children will not get a bus pass if they are within 3 miles of their school (expected to walk up to 6 miles a day!)

So in my opinion, this is headline grabbing rubbish, that will do nothing except give some few people a nice day out on the bus, at tax payers expense...

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CJH says...
12:31am Wed 2 Jan 13

Braceyx wrote:
I'm not begrudging anyone of anything as I feel fortunate to have a job and genuinely feel for those struggling to find a job and support themselves in which yes getting a free bus pass would benefit them. Unemployment wasn't what I was getting at. What I am getting at is it is a bit of a slap in the face when I have fought long and hard. The government not considering everyone else.
So this is all about you then is it? Now I understand...

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lettysmith says...
7:00am Wed 2 Jan 13

CJH wrote:
Braceyx wrote:
I'm not begrudging anyone of anything as I feel fortunate to have a job and genuinely feel for those struggling to find a job and support themselves in which yes getting a free bus pass would benefit them. Unemployment wasn't what I was getting at. What I am getting at is it is a bit of a slap in the face when I have fought long and hard. The government not considering everyone else.
So this is all about you then is it? Now I understand...
I agree CJH. Sorry but you are making all this a bit personal.

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ushmush83 says...
10:32am Wed 2 Jan 13

I think those that are complaining are missing the point here. The bus travel is not a perk here, it is only available for a month. If it helps a few people looking for work to get a job, then it will pay for itself. If it doesn't, it's not exactly the end of the world, but at least something is being tried, no matter how small.

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Jabbadad says...
11:34am Wed 2 Jan 13

Here here ushmush83.

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More Tea Vicar says...
11:51am Wed 2 Jan 13

I think it's a great idea. Good luck to anyone who is looking for a job. I know the expense of getting to interviews can be a real issue.

It will be interesting to see if the scheme can be monitored and the effectiveness checked.

But to those on the left who claim to be concerned about joblessness - remember that you tended to be very pro-immigration, despite the obvious and foreseeable impact on our jobless of importing a virtually limitless supply of cheap labour to compete with our most vulnerable people.

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Braceyx says...
12:20pm Wed 2 Jan 13

I'm not making it personal at all as I say just like all of you I am entitled to my opinion and this is how I feel towards it. If you all think its a good idea then good for you I haven't got a problem with that. It's not all about me at just simply voicing my opinion not aiming it at anyone or to offend anyone either!

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Jabbadad says...
1:56pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Whether you support the unions or not it is either obvious or by-chance that both the Captains of Industry or the government saw that by allowing almost uncontrolled immigration would create a surplus of labour in most jobs / trades which would inevitably drive the wages down. To me it seems a perfect Tory belief / action.
Even the reports in the press which government ministers are claiming support their actions against welfare are possibly massaged in the hope that we mere mortals don't have the ability to work it out.
The figures being quoted are Job Seekers Allowance 2007 £59.15 rising to by 2012 to £71 a rise they say of 20% or 4% per year. Whereas wages 2007 £392 rising to £441 by 2012 a rise they say of 1.7%.
When in fact looking at the money and NOT percentages mean that Job Seekers Allowance rose from £59.15 by £11.85 to £71 over 5 years = 4% per year.
While wages rose from £392 by £49 to £441 over 5 years = (they say) 1.7%. WRONG the increase is 2.5% per year
What I am sadly trying to say is, don't accept Tory ministers figures when they are trying to disguise the disgraceful actions they are taking against the most vulnerable in this society, and which over the 13 years of Blair & Browns reign I did not see the Tories beating the drum against benefits then since of course they would have had even less of a mandate from the general public than they actually got wouldn't they?

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mayall8808 says...
2:41pm Wed 2 Jan 13

There's a book out about this incompetant government by Polly Toynbee, Hiding behind the incompetance and ruining our country, i read it, so should everyone else, it is so true what she says about this load of wasters running the country

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More Tea Vicar says...
4:50pm Wed 2 Jan 13

mayall8808 wrote:
There's a book out about this incompetant government by Polly Toynbee, Hiding behind the incompetance and ruining our country, i read it, so should everyone else, it is so true what she says about this load of wasters running the country
Polly Toynbee...classic champagne socialist.

She advocates egalitarianism, notably state-education, but sends her own children to independent schools.

She also has a home in Tuscany. Her concern about Global Warming doesn't stop her travelling there.

I'd be highly sceptical about her views.

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DarrenM says...
6:12pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Effectively then we the taxpayer are subsidizing the bus companies for a month.

I'm guessing its a blanket payment based on the number of jobseekers and that each and every journey is not accounted for and then billed back to the council? but I'm happy to be proved wrong -, with the Jobless used as an excuse - presumably to increase passenger numbers and keep the myth of sustainable green transport.

No doubt in December 2013 the headline will be "Passenger numbers increased for the year" and more justification for empty bus lanes.


So the real headline is "Council/Govt gives lump sum to local bus companies"

That said I see no reason why something like the old fashioned "Railway Warrant" couldn't be issued on an individual basis by the council to the Unemployed who can prove they have a job interview.

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perplexed@peoplesattitude says...
11:08am Thu 3 Jan 13

I think this is beyond a joke, anyone unemployed who has an interview gets the cost of the bus fare refunded by the job centres already, this i am reliably informed by someone on JSA, doesnt want to work and doing everything they can to avoid job clubs and everything else they are meant to go to to continue being paid. By their own admitance they have no desire to work.

Now we are as tax payers going to have to fund them being able to have "jolly" days out when they feel like it.

I know we cant cast everyone with the same brush but surely the fairest way is to continue the way it is done now, if they got to get to an interview and cant afford to get there give them a ticket or warrant that they can use. Surely there should be some monitoring of expenditure against what is achieved by this scheme??

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Jabbadad says...
11:33am Thu 3 Jan 13

Having been in the Army we had Rail Warrants for the UK to get home and they could only be used by the person they were issued for, since ID could be requested. And unlike the way that some job centers have been issuing NHS numbers to all asunder, perhaps a lot more control would need to be used over this new scheme.
And for the doubters of course the Bus companies are keen to join the scheme, they are a business, and most of the travel required is possibly off peak times. So Win Win.

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Biggles says...
12:38am Sat 5 Jan 13

Jabbadad wrote:
Having been in the Army we had Rail Warrants for the UK to get home and they could only be used by the person they were issued for, since ID could be requested. And unlike the way that some job centers have been issuing NHS numbers to all asunder, perhaps a lot more control would need to be used over this new scheme. And for the doubters of course the Bus companies are keen to join the scheme, they are a business, and most of the travel required is possibly off peak times. So Win Win.
Those were "travel warrants", not rail warrants.
.
You could only have four a year, and if you didn't want to use public transport, you could claim mileage allowance.
.
If you used public transport, you couldn't travel 1st class, unless you paid the difference.
.
They also weren't limited to the UK !
.
It seems, (as job seekers can already claim reasonable expenses to attend interviews), to just be some kind of an excuse to try and increase bus passenger numbers.

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RobertR says...
5:09pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Worcester News.You have reported this news item incorrectly.
My son is a Jobseeker, lives in Worcester and has been told by the DWP that he is not eligible for the scheme. So, who is?.
Is this just another wind up to raise the blood pressure of your correspondents?.

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RobertR says...
5:16pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Worcester News.You have reported this news item incorrectly.
My son is a Jobseeker, lives in Worcester and has been told by the DWP that he is not eligible for the scheme. So, who is?.
Is this just another wind up to raise the blood pressure of your correspondents?.

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RobertR says...
5:16pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Worcester News.You have reported this news item incorrectly.
My son is a Jobseeker, lives in Worcester and has been told by the DWP that he is not eligible for the scheme. So, who is?.
Is this just another wind up to raise the blood pressure of your correspondents?.

Report this post »

pronstar says...
12:15am Mon 7 Jan 13

I don't understand why all unemployed people can't be allowed to benefit from this. Its a good initiative but why is someone who is six months unemployed eligible, whilst someone three or eleven months unemployed not?

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