disability buss pass

Twolous

I live in Colchester Essex, and have recently got a bus pass for my husband, he is in receipt of Low Mobility and middle care DLA, we only got the pass because his GP filled in the form, but the lady at the coucil that gives out the passes says it is changing next year and will only be given to people who get High Mobility DLA. Can anyone cofirm this as true.

Shelle

I hope that isnt true as this pass is the only thing I get as I dont qualify for the DLA despite being severely deaf (I cope too well apparantly).

I get no other benefit and was overjoyed to at last qualify for the bus pass. I know I can also get the railcard but you do pay for that initally. Perhaps they cant take existing passes off you if that rule does change?

flizzypop

The person I do care work for is disabled and I have recently encouraged her to use the buses when we go out for the day as she would usually shell out considerably more money for a taxi. She doesn't yet have a bus pass because we haven't looked into it, but this topic has prompted me to have a look for her so thank you.

Pete268

Twolous wrote: »

I live in Colchester Essex, and have recently got a bus pass for my husband, he is in receipt of Low Mobility and middle care DLA, we only got the pass because his GP filled in the form, but the lady at the coucil that gives out the passes says it is changing next year and will only be given to people who get High Mobility DLA. Can anyone cofirm this as true.

In the Department for Transport Guidance for Local Authorities on assessing eligibility to the 'All England' national bus pass, it basically say that only those who receive either:

High Rate Mobility Component of DLA or
War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

will be automatically eligible for a pass.

It goes onto say those of fare paying age in receipt of a blue badge should also be treated as eligible automatically.

Those on a local authority register (ie registered blind etc) can also be considered as eligible.

Other people with disabilities maybe assessed to see whether they should receive a bus pass.

The full document is here if you want to read it;

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/informationlocalauthorities/guidancedisabled/guidancetolocalauthoritieson3561

Para 17 onwards - Assessing Eligibility

Peter

mgn83uk

Someone mentioned the underground; we don't have one here, but the Charnwood Borough Council version of the National Pass covers *all* bus and *all* rail travel *all* the time (including peak-time, i.e. before 0930 monday to friday) in the "local" area, which extends into several neighbouring counties, and some towns beyond these.

It's always worth checking - the national entitlement is still only off-peak bus travel only, but local authorities are still able to fund additional concessions, like they do here. Just be careful, rail companies can be dreadful in their knowledge of these. I was recently charged £10.50 by East Midlands Trains because a rude conductor (whom started shouting at me?!) refused to accept that my pass was valid on that route. He was obviously so confident he was correct that he refused to give me his name! I'm in the process of claiming every penny back, however. Since then i've always carried an email from the council stating the 'local area' coverage, and found this to be helpful.

-Mark.

jjjme

I find all this talk of bus passes and eligibility very interesting. I've finally registered disabled with a birth defect - born with only half one of my arms without a hand. I know from everything I've read that, on the lower rate of care I recieve I am NOT eligible.

Despite this a certain bus driver the other day started questioning why I don't have a bus pass. After telling him I wouldn't get one he gave me a form insisting I would. A few days later the same driver was on my bus and asked straight away if I'd filled the form in. I told him I hadn't because I'd read through it and don't meet the criteria - he was still very insistant saying he was sure I would get it and would be very surprised if I didn't. I've been lucky and not had him since.
I had a similar experience on the train where, despite my insistance otherwise the guard sold me a disabled discounted fare (I kept saying no but he wouldn't take no for an answer). My biggest concern was incase I encountered the Revenue Protection Officers and they asked to see my pass - where would that have left me!?

rseal

When you apply for a bus pass can you get your doctor to write something to go with the form just try you might get one

celticmoneysaver

I have been hunting around on this and found that there is a campaign being run by the charity Sense
Improving concessionary bus travel permits for all disabled people
http://www.sense.org.uk/campaigns/your_campaigns/bus_passes/bus_passes.htm

and there is a petition on No10 .gov about improving access to bus passes for people with mental health problems
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/BusTravelPermits/

hope you will give them a look and consider signing or joining in:T

Trialia

I got one while living in Staffordshire as I was on low care DLA, but in Somerset I didn't qualify as I didn't have one of the listed physical disabilities. Now I'm officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I qualify in Manchester, where I'm now living, despite being on low care DLA and no mobility (that will change when I reapply for DLA, thanks to my official papers finally saying 'fibromyalgia' - having the pain and mobility trouble without a diagnosis is very frustrating and not much help with bureaucrats!).

LimeLight

I have a pass for mental health reasons, but trying to actually get one off Merseytravel, is like trying to extract urine from a stone.

I can use mine on buses, trains and ferries in Merseyside 24 hours a day, but the usual restrictions should i leave the area.