Disabled buss pass and children

mightymole

my partner has a disabled bus pass due to her disability and has a companion with on it as she needs help and doctor says she needs help but to have companion she has to pay £10 per year for this.

foxxymynx

Waggle_Dancer wrote: »

No it doesn't. It is a national scheme.
Since 1 April 2008, everyone who is eligible for concessionary bus travel in England is entitled to free off-peak travel on all local buses anywhere in England.

What is 'eligible disabled'?

You are eligible disabled if any of the following applies to you:

• you are blind or partially sighted
• you are profoundly or severely deaf
• you are without speech
• you have a disability which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk
• you do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms
• you have a learning disability
• you would, if you applied for a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have your application refused under section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) on grounds other than persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol

I believe Scotland and Wales have something on similar lines but I'm not sure if we can cross borders with our free passes!

See http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/PublicAndCommunityTransport/DG_4019388

Ok, I hold my hands up that I was wrong and the criteria for applying is the same country-wide. However, the example in my first post I feel was a valid example.

There is a reason that the OP has a bus pass, you can get another person "added" to your bus pass to accompany you if you need to be accopmanied, however, I highly doubt that you would be able to get your whole family of children added to your pass, as there isn't a reason that makes them "more special" than any other persons child(ren). An extra person to assist obviously serves as a valid argument, however, several children don't. Other families have to pay for their children, regardless of income. The OP is assisting the children, not the other way around.

[Deleted User]

foxxymynx wrote: »

The bus pass, as I understand it, isn't because of cost, but because you have limited mobility so can only walk very short distances,

Was this your example? If so, it is still wrong as you will see from the criteria.

I agree totally that there is no reason why children should be added to a free disability bus pass.

What annoys me is when people presume that "disabled" automatically means that you can't walk very far.

foxxymynx

Waggle_Dancer wrote: »

Was this your example? If so, it is still wrong as you will see from the criteria.

I agree totally that there is no reason why children should be added to a free disability bus pass.

What annoys me is when people presume that "disabled" automatically means that you can't walk very far.

What annoys me is that people also assume. The reason that I stated that above, is that I had to prove that I was in reciept of DLA mobility component. Therefore I am giving an example relating to my own personal experience.

[Deleted User]

foxxymynx wrote: »

I had to prove that I was in reciept of DLA mobility component.

I'm sorry you had to prove this, it really was over the top that you had to prove DLA mobility - its not a requirement at all.

There are much simpler ways of proving ones disability status. Some local authorities seem to have taken it upon themselves to make it much harder than it actually needs to be to get a free bus pass.

polkadot

Waggle_Dancer wrote: »

I'm sorry you had to prove this, it really was over the top that you had to prove DLA mobility - its not a requirement at all.

There are much simpler ways of proving ones disability status. Some local authorities seem to have taken it upon themselves to make it much harder than it actually needs to be to get a free bus pass.

I get where Foxy was coming from.I have a three year old son who is mostly in his buggy because I dont cope either,. Looking at me, I appear to be able bodied-but I have cerebral palsy. I was told that because I push a buggy im not disabled.It was only when I went to meet my mp and tell her my story that I got DLA-I cannot tell you how many bus drivers have refused me access because of the buggy.

savemoney

My daughter now 18 has a bus pass free, and a adult or responsible older child is allowed free with her as a helper, maybe you might get one child free if they are old enough

mealone

savemoney wrote: »

My daughter now 18 has a bus pass free, and a adult or responsible older child is allowed free with her as a helper, maybe you might get one child free if they are old enough

For a deaf person any child who can walk unaided is a carer, for a blind person the child can warn of dangers, its not only older children but any child who requires paying for on public transport can be in a carering role depending on disability and not just sensory disabilities.

Tally-Ho_2

Waggle_Dancer wrote: »

I'm sorry you had to prove this, it really was over the top that you had to prove DLA mobility - its not a requirement at all.

There are much simpler ways of proving ones disability status. Some local authorities seem to have taken it upon themselves to make it much harder than it actually needs to be to get a free bus pass.

The problem, is that the Department for Transport issued only 'guidance' to local authorities (on not just eligibility but the whole scheme) and not specific regulation. The guidance is here (para 17 onwards regarding eligibility):

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/informationlocalauthorities/guidancedisabled/ancetolocalauthoritieson3561.pdf

As you can see from this guidance:

17 The Department recommends that, where available, the most robust way of
assessing eligibility is likely to be via other relevant state benefits.

18 Eligibility for a concessionary travel pass may be considered "automatic" (not
requiring further assessment) where a person is in receipt of one or both of the following state benefits, which link eligibility to receive the benefit to the ability to walk, provided that the person is of fare paying age and that the award of the benefit has been for at least 12 months or is expected to be for at least 12 months:

• Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
(HRMCDLA);
• War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS).

19 Applicants claiming these benefits will be able to provide documentary evidence oftheir entitlement. An example of proof of entitlement is proof of payment of the allowance. An applicant receiving the HRMCDLA will be able to produce an award notice letter from the Disability & Carers Service (DCS) or, alternatively, an excise duty exemption certificate (which is given to those who receive HRMCDLA). If they have lost the award notice, the DCS can provide another copy at:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/dcs/.

20 An applicant receiving WPMS will have an award letter from the Service
Personnel and Veterans Agency (Free-phone enquiry number 0800 169 22 77).

21 Eligibility may also be considered automatic where a disabled person of fare
paying age has been issued with a disabled persons’ parking badge ("Blue Badge"). It does not, of course, follow that a person who has a concessionary travel pass is
necessarily eligible for a Blue Badge.

22 For applicants outside the above categories, the Department recommends that
the next most robust means of assessment is likely to be via local authority lists of
registered disabled people where these are relevant. This is covered in more detail below for people who are blind or partially sighted, or profoundly or severely deaf. Where a person is registered with an authority outside their current area of residence, the local authority may wish to consider the desirability of contacting that authority as against other means of assessing eligibility.

23 For other applicants, where there is any doubt about eligibility, the Department
recommends that local authorities seek independent medical evidence to inform their
decision. The cost of this should not be borne by the applicant.

24 Using an applicant's GP to verify that an individual meets the criteria for a
concessionary travel pass is regarded as an unsatisfactory arrangement for both the GP and the administrators of the scheme. The main argument against this approach is that it compromises the doctor / patient relationship.

25 The Department strongly recommends that independent health professionals
should undertake assessments in place of GPs. In the case of assessment of the inability to walk, for example, occupational therapists or physiotherapists are often best placed to assess eligibility due to their professional knowledge of mobility. Transferring assessment to such specialists implicitly suggests the importance of making judgements based on physical mobility rather than medical conditions.

etc etc

Thus it makes the distinction between 'automatic' issue to those receiving DLA HRM (and for War Pensioners their Mobility Supplement) and other disabled people determined by other factors. However being guidance some LA's follow it to the letter whilst others can (and have) made up their own interpretations around the guidance.

pipkin71

I had to produce evidence of my DLA award [mobility component] and the pass was automatically granted.

With my travel company, you can still apply for the buss pass without claiming DLA, but would have to give permission for the company to contact your GP, as it is only HRM that automatically qualifies you for the pass.