Travel boost for benefits claimants
A Renfrewshire MP has hailed a victory that will make life easier for benefits claimants in Bridge of Weir.
Gavin Newlands has been given assurances from the UK Government that anyone from the area will be able to use the Johnstone Jobcentre rather having to travel to Greenock.
Mr Newlands and Councillor Natalie Don said first time claimants were unnecessarily being sent to Greenock for their first Universal Credit appointment.
Now Alok Sharma MP, Minister of State for Employment has performed a u-turn saying people will now be able to use the Johnstone site or receive a full reimbursement for their travel.
Mr Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “I was shocked to find out that some Universal Credit claimants from Bridge of Weir are being told that they have to make a 20 mile round trip to attend appointments at the Greenock Jobcentre, when there is a closer one just a few miles away in Johnstone.
“This means that claimants are having to spend up to 14 per cent of their total weekly benefit entitlement to attend job centre appointments in Greenock.
“I welcome the fact that the Minister has accepted my calls and confirmed that people in this situation should now be able to attend Johnstone instead but at the very least have their travel expenses reimbursed if they are asked to attend Greenock. However, I’m still concerned that this instruction is not reaching the staff on the ground and therefore the Minister should write to all Jobcentre staff in Greenock and Johnstone, informing them that relevant claimants can attend Johnstone or have their travel expenses reimbursed.
“Universal Credit has been a shambles that continues to cause misery and hardship across the country as the rollout continues. I am glad that this issue has been resolved, making life a little bit easier for people living in Bridge of Weir.”
Natalie Don, SNP Councillor for Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, added that she was pleased with the decision.
She said: “I was completely horrified when some residents in Bridge of Weir first contacted me to say that they were forced to walk 22 miles, to and from, Greenock, to attend their job centre appointments.
“I am happy that this issue has now been raised at a national level and progress is being made by the UK government to sort this mess out.”