Bus pass prob, can you help me please?

nannytone_2

grazzzz wrote: »

Limited in England in what way??

limited in as much that in most places they can only be used on the bus and not on trains ( london is one exception, and there are probably more)

OrkneyStar

nannytone wrote: »

limited in as much that in most places they can only be used on the bus and not on trains ( london is one exception, and there are probably more)

I am not sure all train travel is free all over scotland either?

nannytone_2

i think i remember reading somewhere that trains are free too in scotland, but i may be mistaken,
you cant use an english bus pass in scotland at all.

Bryando

You get half price on the train or £1 odd return within 10 miles. Might be £2, I tend to use the us as free.

I was lead to believe that in England you can only use your bus pass within your council area. Where here you can use it for the full of Scotland.

Must admit since losing DLA missed the companion element of the pass. We used to go days out all over Scotland.

nannytone_2

no you can use any 'local' bus in england and wales.
it excludes coach travel

Xign

My council automatically renews bus passes, you no longer need to renew manually, they just send you a new pass a month before the old one expires.

nannytone_2

Xign wrote: »

My council automatically renews bus passes, you no longer need to renew manually, they just send you a new pass a month before the old one expires.

without checking that you are still entitled?

Xign

nannytone wrote: »

without checking that you are still entitled?

Only if your name is randomly chosen other than that, no.

I would provide a link to the process but out County Councils website appears to be down.

P4ula

LouiseTopp wrote: »

I hope this is the right forum for this question. I have a worry at the moment about my bus pass, and would like some advice.

I am disabled with curvature of the spine and I am on the lower rate of mobility. My free bus pass runs out next year, I use it three times a week as I do voluntary work at the spiritualist church in Bournemouth. I live in Salisbury and there is no work suited to me or voluntary positions available where I live. I also see my counselor once a month in Bournemouth (as I have bad depression) because again no one could be found in Salisbury.

I am very independent and rely on my bus pass to get out and about. If this is taken from me, then I would have to give up many things including my councillor and friends that I have made. I do not want to return to the isolation which I thought I had left behind, monthly bus passes are very expensive in Wiltshire. It would be a case of doing food shopping or loosing my independence and being left on my own again with no one to talk to. Going there is the highlight of my life, because I know if I have a problem, someone will listen to me. I think I would rather starve then go back to that life again of nothing to look forward to.

Can you please advise me what I should do please? I am worried sick I will be plunged back into a dark depression again. The spiritualist church have done a lot for me to get me where I am, and I don't want to say goodbye because I cannot afford to get to see them or my councillor who has been great.

Thanks.

Hi,

As you say you live in Salisbury, I take it your bus pass is now issued by Wiltshire County Council (instead of your local district council who used to issue the passes). Looking at their entitlement for a disabled bus pass, it (as most councils do) lists the seven categories of disability as described under the Transport Act 2000. However for the evidence needed to show that one falls under the Transport Act 2000, it does state:

from:
http: //www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parking.../buspasses.htm

4. If you are applying for the Wiltshire Bus Pass because of disability you must include recent evidence of disability. We will accept a copy of one of the following:

• Disability Living Allowance letter showing the higher rate mobility component and eligibility dates.
• War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement award letter
• A letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency stating that you have been certified to have “a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.”
• Blue Badge (showing number, expiry date and photograph)
• A copy of your latest audio graph showing your hearing falls between 70-95 dBHL or it reaches 95+ dBHL
• Evidence of registration with other bodies, such as the RNIB
• Evidence of registration with social service under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act
• Recent evidence from the DVLA that a driving licence has been refused or revoked. This does not include those who have had their licence refused/revoked through misuse of alcohol or drugs.

It is likely that the majority of service personnel and veterans who have received compensation for an injury in tariffs 1 – 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) will be eligible for a Wiltshire Bus Pass because of their disability. Please send a copy of your “Reason for Decision” letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency so that we can assess your eligibility''.


Thus as you receive only Low Rate Mobility DLA and an award of DLA High Rate Mobility is needed to qualify, you would not qualify under that provision.

However would you fall under one of the other listed criteria such as :
Evidence of registration with social service under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act

ie Are you registered with Social Services?

Alternatively the criteria listed does also state following paragraph:

If you are unable to provide evidence as above we will consider an explanation of how you qualify under the seven categories mentioned previously from a social worker or other official body, which must be on the relevant official headed paper and signed by a qualified official in support of your application.

Would you be able to get such as a Social Worker/GP etc to say you would qualify under any of the criteria listed under the Transport
Act 2000?

At least as your current pass doesn't expire until 2014, you have a bit of time to sort out and get in place any of the other means needed to now qualify for the pass.

Paula

Xign

This is what my County Council say:

Current pass holders who have passes due to renewal will be automatically sent replacements, rather than having to reapply.
However, if pass holders have moved since their current pass was issued they should contact ECC on buspass.team@essex.gov.uk or by calling 0845 200 0388.

http://www.essexhighways.org/Public-Transport/Concessionary-Fares.aspx