carers companion bus pass????

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  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451
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    Right there's a trick to this. Make sure that the box on the back of his application saying "add carer" or "requires companion" is ticked because if it isn't they wont automatically do this for him. You can't tick this box it has to be the person who fills the 2nd part in for you who does it after seeing the award notice.
  • zzzLazyDaisy
    zzzLazyDaisy Posts: 12,497
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    In my area they only started doing companion passes after April this year when the national pass was introduced.

    To qualify you have to produce evidence that you are in receipt of either HRC or HRM DLA, but that might be different from other areas (this is a recent change - you used to need evidence from your GP until very recently, here). As someone else has said, even then it isn't automatic, you must make sure you actually tick the box to say you do want a companion pass.

    If you already have a bus pass, but not a companion pass, it would be worth making enquiries as things might have changed since you got your bus pass.
    I'm a retired employment solicitor. Hopefully some of my comments might be useful, but they are only my opinion and not intended as legal advice.
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 45,936
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    There was something on the radio the other day about local councils having discretion about whether to offer this or not.

    And when the 'new' national bus passes came into force, some of them decided they could no longer afford to offer carer's bus passes as well. So some people who USED to get free travel for a companion now have to pay.
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  • I have just phoned Merseytravel and requested information re the carers pass. The woman who answered was quite rude. She wanted to know where I had heard about this pass, I told her, she snapped back that although the Government make mention of it it is entirely at the discretion of the local transport authority if they provide it, and they dont.

    Oh well, I still do get a 1/3rd off the cost of a companion with my disabled persons railcard even if Merseytravel dont want to help carers in Liverpool.
    My OH does so much for me and deals with stuff he shouldn't have to in relation to my epilepsy as do the kids. I wonder what I'd do if they were not there to help, but the Gov' dont care and still give carers a rough ride despite the money unpaid caers save them.
  • I am disabled and have a disabled bus pass. My understanding is that my Husband could be put on my pass as a carer, but that would mean I couldn't use my pass without him. So I chose to keep the pass just for myself as sometimes I take the bus with a friend or occasionally on a good day by myself.
  • frisco_2
    frisco_2 Posts: 46 Forumite
    course you can it is called a companion card and anyone who is with you gets free travel on buses and discount on trains i'v had mine for years and have travelled with various different people my photo's on the front and it say's quite clearly companion card but i am in scotland
  • robpw2
    robpw2 Posts: 14,044
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    it depends on councils charnwood dont offer it


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  • Shomac
    Shomac Posts: 22 Forumite
    When i worked in care, our residents had bus passes with companion on them, so no matter what staff member went with them, they got for free or a nominal charge, whatever applied at that time.
  • reading what people have said here it seems to be a post code loto again!!!!!
    in My area they will not issue these either and again the council blame the bus company the bus company blame the council then the council blame the government and so on.
    I even had someone tell me they couldn't get a compainion card as they were working too many hours (16) but spent the rest of their time caring for older relation......makes ya wonder what planet we are actually all on coz it don't seem to be the same one.....
  • Zara33
    Zara33 Posts: 5,441 Forumite
    redbull08 wrote: »
    I often escort my brother on buses trains for whom i am an unpaid carer, at my own cost.
    ive heard you can get an escort travel Ticket, maybe also to get in cinema but where do i get this?
    can anyone advise please
    thanks in lieu
    http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/concessionary-travel/who-qualifies
    aliasojo It's called a 'Plus One' card here. The carer goes free on buses and gets into cinemas and certain other venues free. The logic being that the person wouldn't be able to go without a carer so this is to enable people to try to live fuller lives.

    Can't say i have ever used the one plus card for the bus :confused: Have always used the card in the link above.
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