Bus Pass and TV licence petition

Of course there is the extremely important point about free bus passes that it helps elderly people to socialise, and therefore helps to reduce loneliness.

Personally I give thanks for my bus pass every day.

I certainly won’t sign it. Pensioners on Pension Credit will still get free tv licenses, and probably bus passes. The rest of us can afford them. Many pensioners have their own cars anyway and rarely use their bus pass. My mother aged 91 no longer drives but she doesn’t use buses, she relies on my husband or myself for all her transportation. I know there are massive numbers of pensioners who simply don’t need these handouts, I’m one of them. Protect those on Pension Credit only.

Totally agree Maddyone.

maddyone "The rest of us can afford them" - gross and untrue generalisation, I completely disagree. People who don't drive have no choice but to use busses, and just because yuou are comfortable off, don't assume that everyone who does not receive pension credit is in that position.

For those people who don't need bus passes, what's the issue? Just don't use it - it's not compulsory just because you have one.

Pension credit has to be applied for - it is estimated that over 1 million people who are entitled to it have not applied. There can be many reasons why this is the case, unaware they are entitled to it, not having family to help them with forms or because they look upon it as charity.

Whatever the cause, those people will suffer hardship without a bus pass and having to pay for a TV licence.

The cost of means testing would far outweigh the cost of continuing with these "benefits".

Bus passes only cost the local authority money when they are used - if someone feels uncomfortable having a bus pass they are free to pay the fare

Agree with maddy

There are people right across the age range who are lonely, or isolated or on low incomes - I'm not clear why this perk should only be available to older people (such as my dad and MiL who have incredibly health pension incomes)?

I stand by what I said Humptydumpty, the free tv license is only available to 75 year olds and over anyway, so many pensioners on Pension Credit don’t get it. I don’t get it, I’m not old enough, but I don’t need it or want it. The money should be used to give a free tv license to ALL pensioners on Pension Credit, regardless of their age, not just to pensioners who don’t need it, because they’re over 75. My own mother gets it, she was disappointed that it will end, but she doesn’t need it, so I reminded her that she doesn’t need it. She agreed.

Although, many on here are still not eligible for a freedom pass or prefer to drive and perhaps resent contributing to the cost of it all I would add that unless it’s continuance is supported by you it certainly won’t be available when you need it.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to scrap the free bus pass, when its benefits to public health are so obvious. Especially in these times when we should surely be doing anything we can to restrict car use.

www.nhs.uk/news/older-people/free-bus-pass-is-ticket-to-good-health/

And apparently every £1 spent on the free travel generates nearly £3 to the wider economy. It’s a no-brainier really. And yes, I think it should be extended to everyone on a low income.
greenerjourneys.com/blog/free-bus-pass-older-people-benefits-everyone/

I can’t wait to get mine.

I think taking the bus pass away would be false economy. For some it’s their only way of getting out to meet friends, groups etc. Without it many people would be isolated and depressed, and increased mental health problems would mean more strain on the national health service. The other problem is without elderly people using the buses, bus companies would cut more services which in turn would effect the whole bus using population, which tend to be people with lower incomes who can’t afford other forms of transport.

no-brainer, not no-brainier.

What do you think about the BBC having a separate bank account into which people outside the UK could anonymously donate? That way pensioners might not need to pay for their licence.

In France we have to pay for tv (even if we don't watch French tv) and the fee is added to the habitation or fonciere bills (I forget which but they are similar to rates) We watch English tv as we are within the reach of the UK satellite(s).
Mainly the BBC channels.

Provided that I use a VPN I can watch catch up tv whenever and wherever I want anywhere in the world. Admittedly I do have to state that I paid the tv licence when I signed up to I-Player. Radio is available, free, anywhere in the world, using a computer.