Bus Pass and TV licence petition

I don’t think I will sign it Mick sorry . I doubt by the time I retire at 67.5 there will be any money left for such luxuries as free bus passes and free TV licences . There’s only so much money to go around and it’s the young people with families I worry about . Is anyone petitioning for those young people living on the breadline , using food banks but still trying to pay bus fares and TV licences ? I doubt it .

I agree Gillybob, most of a " certain age " have their own transport and certainly not as badly off as those who are struggling and who are also in work-----it's hard times for them.

To be honest, I stop and think many a time as to how I've managed without a husband for over 25 years, no support because I've lived off savings which I'm supposed to still have if I'm bunged into a home-----some hope !
Until people are on their own, they've no idea.

There is plenty of money to go round. The UK is the 5th richest country in the world.

It's not about choosing between young and old - that is a classic 'divide and conquer' tactic. Bus passes can be a lifeline for people in rural areas, and TV is often the only entertainment old or infirm people have.

In neither case is it about finding extra funds. Buses run, and TV broadcasts whether or not a few elderly people are getting them free.

Finally, it's time that cheap, safe, reliable public transport was available to everyone, so that single use cars stop being the default mode of transport. We are killing the world, and we need to think laterally to stop it.

Most of a certain age have their own transport

Really? Can you link to this statistic, please?

Unfortunately, many living in rural areas don't have buses any more, so can't use their passes anyway.

I am fortunate that I could manage without a bus pass and I can pay the TV licence, however, there are many pensioners for whom this is not the case.

There seems to be a misconception that all older people have savings, live in paid for houses and have a sizeable income - this may be true for some but there are a huge number who live in rented accommodation, don't own a car and are living on the basic state pension. Removing the bus pass and free TV licences would cause them great hardship.

Personally, I'd rather receive a bit extra in my pension, which could then be taxed if I were wealthy.

I wouldn't be able to use a bus pass anyway because there are hardly any buses left where I live.

Obviously not many bus users on here.! There are usually queues here for the bus that leaves after 9.30 especially on market days. It would be a struggle for some to find the bus fare if they had to.

I agree with Beckett I know several people who would find it difficult to pay for a TV licence and losing the bus pass would mean being unable to attend groups which are sometimes their only chance to socialise.

gillybob How do you work out that your state pension age will be 67.5? The maximum at the moment for people born before 1977 is 67.

My recent pension forecast is for 67 and 4 months to be precise growstuff not that the 4 months will make a lot of difference will it? I feel cheated out of the retirement me and DH looked forward to at 60 and 70.

I do use my bus pass, and so does DH, and we are grateful for it on every journey. We can no longer walk into town and it saves having to use the car.
As to the TV licence, DH is now 80, so we have had it free for 5 years, and would gladly pay for it , if and when it is taken away.
Gillybob, I do feel for you that the pension age has moved, and we know how hard you work. I would have felt so cheated, if it had happened to us. Also I don't know how we would have had the health to work for longer.

My biggest worry is for my DH Auntieflo. He is 67 and trying to work like a 30 year old . His health is not good and yet he has to try and keep going as we have nothing else . We worry about the lads jobs too.

Perhaps it woujd be better to campaign for improved bus services for all rather than bus passes for those over 65? Cutting rural bus services affects many people, youngsters trying to get to college or part time jobs, parents trying to fit in part time jobs with school pick up times etc.

I don't understand how you work that out. This is the latest timetable:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310231/spa-timetable.pdf

Of course, it doesn't mean that it won't be reviewed upwards again, but it hasn't been yet.

The notes at the bottom are all important growstuff our accountant at work advised me to get a full forecast and being born in 1962 means I will retire in the year I am 67 The month of birth depends on when exactly . Mine is 67 and 4 months . Not getting excited yet as it’s still 10 years away unless the goalposts are moved again or I don’t make it that far. It’s not nice to wish your life away. But that what I do . Spend Monday’s wishing it was Friday.

Shall I spend 2019 wishing it were 2029 ? I don’t think so .

GillT57 Whilst I agree there needs to be an improvement in bus services - that wouldn't help the elderly unable to afford the fares.

Not everyone has a private pension or savings. I am thinking of those who worked in low paid jobs with no work place pension, rented their home from the local authority and now rely on public transport to get around.

One thing that's not often mentioned re bus passes - they keep an awful lot of cars off the road! They do around here, anyway, and I suspect in other areas with v good public transport. I use my car an awful lot less since I had mine, dh ditto.

OTOH I do sometimes feel guilty for having it when dh and I could afford to pay fares - but then we'd v likely take the car instead, as we did before.

I agree that it's unfair that people like me and dh get free transport, when younger people who are struggling with hefty rents/mortgages/childcare, have to pay.

It wouldn't be a bad idea if it were liable to be taxed, if you were above a certain income. IMO that would be fairer, as long as you could opt not to have a bus pass, if (like my sister and BiL) you live in an area with virtually no PT anyway.

As many other have said not all pensioners are “comfortably off” and to them the bus pass enables a degree of freedom to shop and socialise, and a free TV licence is a godsend for the poorest providing companionships and entertainment.

We’ve are a wealthy country and should be able to support both the young and the old who need help .
It should not be a case of either /or ,which causes divisiveness and intolerance .

That's true sunseeker, not all retired people are able to afford to run a car, or possibly pay bus fares on a regular basis either, irrespective of availability of services, but there are other groups of people who are just as hard up, even more so. It is a conundrum, but like GillyBob, I am unlikely to ever get any pensioner 'benefits' anyway, in fact I have joked ( I hope) that by the time I finally get there, I will 'be' the winter fuel allowance.

Doodledog it would seem so reading some of the posts on here about those who are buying/choosing new cars. New !

Well I use the bus on a daily basis. In my area it is a life line.
We go shopping locally and generally get out and about. The bus stops are full of elderly people who would otherwise be dependent on cabs or other people. So many I encounter can no longer drive. We also go up to London on our freedom pass which is something we couldn’t afford without great difficulty. This allows us to visit museums, the National Gallery etc. and other free places of interest. When the elderly are out just locally we talk. People on buses who are living on their own chat and interact with the outside world. They also spend money in shops, markets, cafe’s. Visit clubs for the retired and pursue hobbies. Also, we are not using the car unnecessarily. In fact take away the freedom pass and those who can still drive will be on the road causing pollution and congestion. I plead to retain it for several reasons, not least to maintain the mental health of the disabled and elderly ninety year olds I encounter struggling on to public transport in an attempt to maintain their independence and dignity.

Lovetopaint, I very much agree with your post. Though one part I disagree with is working pensioners should not get free bus passes. Im sorry , but no one else paid for me to go free to my work. As I won't get my pension till 67 and IF I get my free bus pass it wont be for years. Why should we subsidise pensioners to travel to work? I still have to pay my own bus fare. For retired pensioners- yes, they should still get it. As for free TV licence, sorry , it should be means tested. If you can go on holidays abroad, you can afford a TV licence , if television is important to you. I think the free TV licence should be for people on Pension Credit/low income only. I pay mine each week at approx £12. Most pensioners I know are never out the Travel Agents, if they can afford that, they can afford a TV Licence. I know this post wont be popular, but it is my opinion. No one has to agree with me.