Half Price Train Tickets Being Missed Out On

• A third of unemployed people are missing out on special railcard discount
• Discounts gives half price on travel to job interviews
• People missing out on help that they don’t know exists

Unemployed people are missing out on cheaper travel to job interviews, new figures show.

Fewer than three out of ten journeys by job seekers to an interview are made using a job seekers’ railcard, according to the Rail Delivery Group.

It expressed concern that people looking for work in Britain are missing out on help because they don’t know the discount card exists.

It’s one of many recent examples of people not being fully informed of their benefits, others include families missing out on National Insurance Credits, and home-owning pensioners missing out on benefits.

The JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card will get you half price travel on all train lines, although this may vary at peak times, which makes travel to job interviews more affordable.

Paul Plummer, RDG chief executive, said, “Getting more people into work is part of our long-term plan to support and strengthen communities.

“The partnership railway is committed to spreading economic prosperity across the country.

“Over half a million discounted journeys were made in the last year, but we want to make sure that everyone who is entitled to discounted journeys, in all parts of the country, knows about the discounts available.”

Andrew, a young man from Bristol, used the railcard to help him secure a new job.

He said, “Travelling to interviews is nerve-wracking, especially as I have to be careful with money.

“The discount card have been a big help, and without it I wouldn’t have been able to afford to go to the second interview for the job I’ll be starting next month.”

Jobseekers can pick up the railcard for free from a Jobcentre Plus office.