The bias against the under 65's by the English government

Our County Council has proposed changing the disabled bus passes to start from 9:30am instead of 6:30am, but continuing until 11pm.
Many disabled people struggle to get to work and college/school, it’s targeting a minority group to save a few ££’s, my local Cllr is one of many challenging this.

Granan

I have a small NHS pension. Because of that I get nothing. My two brothers are on SDP and income support so they get everything including rent paid, council tax discount and a companion bus pass. Their income is far more than mine. I do get SDP and am as disabled as they are. But my pension is less than their monthly income including tent and council tax payments. They recognise how skewed the system is and I do not grudge them one single penny. One has had a brain injury for decades the other had to give up a cherished job as an hgv driver because he had to have open heart surgery. Fortunately I have my bus bus which I taken as an over 60s pass though could have had the disabled pass. I couldn’t be bothered with the constant updates of info and expiry dates. I think its really mean that the English don’t get their pass. This should be reinstated at 60. This country can throw billions to support war and immigration privilege’s that UK people don’t get plus all those perks the ministers get from their lords snd masters. The system is skewed like this to cause division. If we had peace on earth and among us Brits then they could not survive in their current wealth state. I love my fellow man but happy these things are now being revealed.

Is it really Severe Disability Pemium you are getting? I'm not saying you aren't but as I understand it you need to be getting an income related benefit to receive it. It would be good for us all with severely disabled relatives to know if this is not the case.

Thanks.

Here in Glasgow, the buses are busy with pensioners using their bus passes. Many do not have cars and this means they are getting out and about, rather than sitting at home, doing nothing. They can travel anywhere in Scotland by bus, even a day at the coast. The cost of tickets, is not affordable for many.

Where I live, there are a number of hospitals, served by a good bus service. Despite having a car and a Blue Badge, I can rarely find a parking space, so I leave the car at a shopping centre and get the bus, as do many. It is too stressful for me to drive to them.

I once read an article of the benefits, both physical and mental wellbeing, when people have a bus pass.
This is the bonus of having a devolved government.

I think if they are not for all, then this discourages personal responsibility throughout one's working life.

I just don't "get" the idea that people actually plan during their working life to be in receipt of benefits when retired, love0c!

Does anyone know anyone who has worked all their life so they can do this??
I certainly don't.

I think bus pass and prescriptions should be free for all, once you are of pensionable age. I think if they are not for all, then this discourages personal responsibility throughout one's working life. People should be encouraged to save during and for after working life. Means testing everything just discourages people from doing exactly this!

I know many 60 year old are still in full time work, I certainly was. I never thought of getting a free ride on the buses, used a monthly pass which was cheaper. Rather the passes went to the really elderly and disabled. I have one now, rarely use it as we have 1 bus per day, one there, one back. Use it more when visiting relatives.

If people want parity it's awkward when you have no busses in some areas.

None in our last village for example.

Pensioners’ bus passes in Greater Manchester are issued from age 66. I only use my pass at home for ID, as I have a car, but we do use the local buses when we visit the Lake District and try to leave our car at our accommodation.

Age to get OAP concession travel cards varies by council & operator. Buses charge the earth here & are reduced from every 15mins to hourly or less. What if you've deferred your state pension 5+ years cos it wouldn't be enough?
Bus Co's usually gets a standard amount for each concession fare, so it doesn't matter how far you go on each bus (this prevents fraud as I've been given tickets to the terminus instead of only a few stops up the road, & my council know but don't care).

I believe getting your bus pass in England at 60 yrs or pension date depends on where you live. In Liverpool it's given at 60 years of age, Council subs it.

Very glad I live in Scotland and can make full use of my bus pass country wide

Prescriptions remain free from the 60th birthdate. The charge does not continue to pension age. However, given that anyone who has a medical exemption card would get free prescriptions, is there a case to look at prescriptions charges for those of working age? I had to wait until 66 for my bus pass, which I didn’t apply for until a couple of years ago (I am 70) because we have no bus service to use where I live but I realised it could be useful when visiting other places but even then I’ve only used it once so far.

i live in scotland, the epilepsy doctor told me to apply for a bus pass at 54 because you can't drive with epilepsy, i said i don't drive anyway, never have, but i got it and had to renew each year with a nhs stamped form from the epilepsy clinic, last year i sent the form in but they gave me the oap pass instead as i am 60, it does make a difference to me getting out for various hospital appointments and to go shopping, i use a walker so can't carry much, the pass means i can shop more often. the whole of the uk should be the same.

Casdon

I’d always assumed that it was the subsidy given to bus companies to compensate for free travel for over 60s/over retirement age that was keeping the bus companies viable? If the subsidy was reduced, and only a percentage of people could travel for free, wouldn’t more companies go bust?

I think if bus passes were removed many services would get worse which would affect other users too. I have a bus pass but rarely use it from my home as the services have deteriorated so much since I moved here 21 years ago. I've only used it twice in the 5 years I've had it for local journeys. However I've used it when visiting my family in Yorkshire as they live in a city where the bus services are frequent. I've also used it when visiting Oxford as driving into the city is a nightmare and parking is exorbitantly expensive, so I use the Park and Ride where I just pay to park, and ride for free. However I have a car so I have a choice. Friends who don't drive need the bus services, limited though they are, as the only other option would be taxis or the kindness of friends!

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Totally disagree with it being linked to benefits! People retire at different ages some early some later

Where I live in a country town/large village we are nearly a mile from the nearest bus stop - and it's uphill all the way back. I struggled to do the uphill even when young. It would take DH about an hour now. So we don't use our passes locally but DO use them a lot when visiting our DD in Bristol (several times a year) and spend money in both the city centre and local shops.

Here at home we are members of a (slow) walking group and sometimes even if the start/finish point is near a bus stop it can often take three buses to get home - and then the uphill climb. We would be knackered!

AGAA4

Norah I am not demeaning stay at home mums but those who claim lots of benefits when they are able to work and don't have care of others.
I did stay home to look after my young children for a while but we didn't claim benefits apart from the child benefit which everyone gets.

You have completely misunderstood my post.

Thank you for explaining.

I never care if SAHpeople /couples provide for themselves if not claiming benefits. It's a choice - comes with different issues (long hours for the one in work, lack of work pension for the one at home, etc).

We're all different, live very different lives.

Elusivebutterfly it is never going to be "fair" regarding not using bus passes to commute. Lots of people don't have a 9am start anymore. Even in retail it seems to me.

I thought it was a council decision. I had to wait until I was 66. But wow I use that bus pass every day.

My husband received his state pension and bus pass last year when he reached 66. I will be 67 for both. However, I do get free prescriptions now (l did before because of a medical exemption card. It is nice not to have to renew it every few years and carry it with me) and free eye tests. I am now eligible to buy a senior railcard, but I will renew my disabled person's railcard when l need to this summer as it means that not only do I get ⅓ off the fare, but my husband can as well if he travels with me. I am deaf, which is why I am eligible for it.

I love my bus pass and it keeps my car out of the city centre. Wish it worked in Scotland too.
I'm going to have my driving assessed as I reach 80 this summer. There are too many old people who shouldn't be driving and should be using their bus pass.

I think all generations have battled with travel costs when working. It’s nothing new.
It would make sense to give out free travel bus passes at retirement age. Same goes for free prescriptions.

Just what I was going to post, I got mine at 61 same time as my retirement pension

In Scotland under 24 year olds (may be 22) also get a free bus pass. Sonce it started there have been reports of antisocial behaviour by youngsters on buses especially evenings. Wonder what would happen if all us oldies started having raves on the buses.