How do we pay you?
We will send you the necessary forms to claim your personal travel budget and you can submit claims half-termly or termly.
Attendance will be checked with your school/college and we will amend the amount paid if your child/young person has been absent.
Money is paid to you regularly, throughout the academic year. It is very important that you contact the SEN Transport Team if your bank details change as payments are processed using the details you provide. We review your budget each year to make sure your child/young person still meets the criteria.
We will be moving to a Direct Card Payment System later this academic year. Full details on how this scheme will work will be sent to all families later in the autumn term.
How much is the personal travel budget (PTB)?
How much you receive is based on the distance between your home and school/college. We use GIS mapping software to identify your home address and that of the school/college. The route to school/college is measured along a network of roads. You are paid for 4 journeys a day at a rate of 45p per mile.
For example,
If you live 5 miles from school/college, the PTB is calculated as:
5 miles x 4 journeys (one return journey in the morning and afternoon) = 20 miles a day
20 miles x 45p = £9 per school/college day
If your child/young person attends school/college every day for the full academic year, you will be paid:
£9 for 190 school/college days = £1810 a year (approximately £603 per term).
Will I regularly need to show the council how I am spending the personal travel budget?
We want you to have the flexibility and control to arrange your own transport. The PTB is calculated as above and it is your responsibility to use it as you need to, to ensure you’re your child/young person attends school/college regularly.
There will be no additional funding available to you should you not have enough money at any time. We will monitor your child/young person’s attendance to ensure payments are accurate. When the Direct Card Payment System is available, we will be able to monitor spending online. More details will follow when the system is implemented.
Will it have an impact on my other benefits?
No, personal travel budgets do not affect any other benefits you might receive.
Will the payments be taxed?
The personal travel budget is a payment made in relation to the child/young person, not the parent/carer and so should not affect your tax situation. It is used to enable your child/young person to get to and from school/college each day in a safe and legal way and should not be used for any other purpose. If you have concerns that it may impact on your tax situation, you may want to seek your own advice from a tax expert in relation to your
personal circumstances.
Can the council withdraw my personal travel budget for any reason?
We can withdraw your personal travel budget if:
- Your child/ young person’s attendance is unacceptable
- Your child/young person is no longer eligible for home to school/college travel support
- You have not made safe travel arrangements for your child/young person
- Your child/young person’s EHCP has ended
- Your child/young person leaves school/college
- The scheme is discontinued.
What happens if the arrangements don't work out for my child, or my circumstances change? Can I change back to the previous transport arrangement?
Yes. You must give us 14 days notice to stop the payments into your bank account and to rearrange transport for your child/young person.
Will the personal travel budget (PTB) continue in future years?
Yes. We encourage all children/young people, where possible, to travel independently as they grow up. We hope many parents/carers will consider a PTB as their primary option of transport for their child/young person.
In addition to a PTB, Travel Training is an option when your child/young person is 15+ and may be discussed
with you at that point.