Travel expenses for postal claimants

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

I refer to a FoI response given to Mr Benson on 19 July 2011. I would like to know if the following guidance to JobCentre advisors has changed:

The Flexible Interventions guidance states: 
 
“There are no fixed stages or trigger points at which Flexible Interventions must take place.  
Decisions on when to see a claimant should be driven entirely by what is needed to ensure 
that the claimant moves in to work as quickly as possible. 
 
The Personal Adviser will decide the frequency, duration and content of each Flexible 
Intervention.  This decision should be based on the level of support that the Personal Adviser 
believes the claimant will need to move in to work.” 
 
The guidance regarding combining interviews should provide an answer to your second 
question and states: 
 
“Interviews should be arranged for the claimant’s normal day of attendance, as this makes best 
use of adviser time and reduces the risk of claimants failing to attend interviews.”  
 
The answer to question c) is as follows: 
 
In respect of when motor mileage costs should be reimbursed, the guidance says: 
General Policy 
Whilst it is Government Policy to encourage people to use public transport, it is recognised that 
there will be circumstances where this is not possible.  
There is no ‘reasonableness’ test.  It is up to those making decisions to interpret as appropriate, 
using the guidance below: 
“Travel expenses 
There are circumstances where claimants attending advisory interviews are entitled to have 
either additional incurred, or their full travelling expenses reimbursed. 
Claimant entitled to additionally incurred travelling expenses 
If the claimant is to attend an office, other than their normal office of attendance and they incur 
an additional cost for attending the interview, they will be entitled to have the additional cost 
reimbursed. 
Note: the normal office is considered to be the office where the claimant attends for 
their Jobsearch Reviews 
Claimant entitled to full reimbursement of travel expenses 
The claimant is entitled to have their full travel expenses reimbursed if: 
  their appointment is held in their normal office of attendance but not on the normal 
attendance day;  
  they are a postal claimant who is attending an advisory interview; or 
  it was not possible to notify them of a cancelled appointment and they subsequently 
attend the office.  However, this will only apply if it is not possible for the claimant to be 
seen that day. 

 
Claimant entitlement to additionally incurred travel expenses 
Always pay travel expenses to claimant who are entitled to them.  Payment does not depend 
upon the claimant asking.   
Payment of travel expenses will cover: 
  the cost of the cheapest public transport route; or  
  where use of private transport is justified.  For example, no public transport is available, 
payment at the current rate. 
Both claimants in a Joint Claim will be entitled to claim for travel expenses if they both attend 
an interview that fulfils the above criteria. 
This must be explained to claimants if the interview is arranged by telephone.  It is also clearly 
stated in the generic interview letter. 
Arrange for travel expenses to be paid at the start of the interview.  This will allay any worry or 
uncertainty on the claimant's part.  
For more information, see the Cashiers Guide.” 

I would particular like to know if there has been any change in the following:

“The claimant is entitled to have their full travel expenses reimbursed if: 
….
they are a postal claimant who is attending an advisory interview”

Yours faithfully,

Mrs S Bishop

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DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mrs Bishop

Please see attached response to your FoI request.

Kind regards

DWP Central FoI Team

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