Free Disabled Bus Travel

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

My sister in law receives DLA with the higher mobility component.I suggested she apply for free bus travel as she does'nt drive and as she has a bus stop right outside her front door.I checked on the disability website and it said that if you are in receipt of the higher mobility component you are entitled to a free bus pass.This it appears is official government guidelines.,however our local authority have said that even though she has this and has a blue badge she may not be entitled and she will have to have evidence from her doctor.This is no problem except she doesnt like to bother her doctor but surely the local authority can't overturn the government guidelines.

Hapless_2

I have a Devon pass but there are parts of Devon where I can't use it as the services don't accept it. Some services won't accept it at peak times either, so if I was fit for work, i would not be able to use it in some places to get to work.

lisyloo

but surely the local authority can't overturn the government guidelines

Well that depends.
Are they "guidelines" or are they statutory law.
If they are just guidelines then yes, the local authority can choose to ignore them.

Either investigate the legal standing of what this website says or get her to go to the doctors. Probably the latter is the simplest.
It's a shame she has to do that but it's not her fault if the council insist on it, so she has nothing to feel guilty about.

cattie

In the borough I live in, which is a London borough, Freedom passes for disabled people are quite hard to get. You have to have your doctor's backing & evidence of need & in some cases the form stamped & signed by a consultant if you have one.

In the borough I used to live in they were not so stringent & a pass was automatically renewed every 2yrs. Here though, you have to jump through the hoops every 2yrs.

N71

I think it depends on the local authority.

In Merseyside my son receives a bus pass as he's in receipt of DLA.

But here, you don't have to be in receipt of DLA. My sister (19) was diagnosed with epilepsy two years ago. She's not entitled to DLA obviously, but she does qualify for the bus pass.

wendym

Our local authority gives out tokens on one day annually (about £20, I think) which would allow for 10 return journeys into town (about 10 minutes) per year.

Morglin

Free travel and concessions



Everyone aged 60 and over, or who is disabled, is entitled to free local bus travel. Local authorities also offer concessions for certain groups of people using buses, including young people.

"Free bus travel

From April 2006 everyone in England who is:

• over 60, or
• disabled

is entitled to a free annual bus pass giving free off-peak bus travel within the local authority area where they live. Off-peak travel is when you travel any time after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends. Some local authorities have chosen to extend the availabilty of free travel or offer other benefits such as travel on trams, but this is entirely at the discretion of the local council. To find out if your scheme has been widened beyond your local area and to obtain your bus pass then contact your local council."


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/PublicTransport/BusAndCoachTravel/DG_10036264

Lin

Zara33

My son has one and he's only 12 he gets it because he gets high rate DLA.

lexi

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

My sister in law receives DLA with the higher mobility component.I suggested she apply for free bus travel as she does'nt drive and as she has a bus stop right outside her front door.I checked on the disability website and it said that if you are in receipt of the higher mobility component you are entitled to a free bus pass.This it appears is official government guidelines.,however our local authority have said that even though she has this and has a blue badge she may not be entitled and she will have to have evidence from her doctor.This is no problem except she doesnt like to bother her doctor but surely the local authority can't overturn the government guidelines.

I dont think they will overturn it,as DLA awards cannot be ignored. i imagine they just need an official document for their files. My local council website has a form to download so maybe yours will also. if this is so, then you could write a letter to your GP stating that you would like a free bus pass & need a ltr from him/her & i bet you will get one. Then just send it all off to your council. I did & had no problems, despite not being on DLA. Just look at your councils requirements & go from there.

Morglin

All councils have to supply free bus travel to those who are entitled to it, but, other than London, very few councils give help towards train fares.

For £18 per year, you can get a disabled rail pass which gives about a third off fares for the disabled person and one companion:

http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/

Lin

coffeeandfags

My GP consented for me to have a bus pass even though im only on low-rate care. However, my condition means i cannot carry shopping very far, so NEED to use a bus.
So i guess it depends on the disability.