AN UNEMPLOYED father-of-three claims he has had to turn down two jobs due to lack of support.
Carl Wood, 25, believes that if he was loaned enough money from the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to buy a bicycle he would be back to work in no time.
The FSF provides additional means for JobCentre Plus to supplement and tailor back to work support for individuals.
This includes people like Mr Wood who are offered jobs but are unable to manage until their first pay cheque.
Mr Wood received a letter explaining FSF from the then Minister for Employment Chris Grayling in November 2011 after writing to local MP Austin Mitchell before he turned his first job offer down.
Mr Wood, of Weelsby Street, Grimsby, said: "I have turned down two jobs because the JobCentre is refusing to help me with money to get me going.
"All I wanted was £50 for a bike so I could get to and from work, but they refused.
"The first job I applied for was in November last year at Lincs Turkeys, in Grainthorpe. At the time I asked if I could borrow some money to get there, but I got turned away because I was not on benefits because I had just moved to the area.
"I then got told to get help I would have to sign on for 16 weeks and turn the job down, which is what I did.
"But before I did this I contacted MP Austin Mitchell to see if he could help.
"On November 20, 2011, I received a letter through Mr Mitchell telling me about the FSF, which provides help for people in my situation."
The FSF includes a grant funding mechanism, enabling JobCentre Plus district managers to award funding to local partnerships to address barriers to work.
There is no exhaustive list of needs that may be met by the FSF, but examples could include travel costs, tools or training.
Mr Wood said: "I was recently offered a job at Coldwater and I thought that I would be able to apply for the fund because I had been on benefit for so long.
"But this time they have point blank refused me when I called up and they won't tell me why.
"I am appalled by this and in the letter I was sent it says that there are no qualifying requirements for a loan.
"Subsequently I have had to turn another job down and all I needed was a bike."
A Department For Work And Pensions spokesman said: "Any awards made from the FSF must be appropriate, good value for taxpayers' money and ensure the recipient can move into work sooner than would otherwise be possible.
"We are unable to discuss individual cases."
