Bus Pass and TV licence petition

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Most of a certain age have their own transport

Really? Can you link to this statistic, please?

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.

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.

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.

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 .