OAP over 60 bus pass

ironpetal

Cant find posts relating to this so thought I would post it here.

I have a free bus pass, the regional one, which is great but I also work full time and even though I am 61 it is still costing me 50 quid a month on the bus for just my morning journey to work because you cant use this pass before 9.30 week days. I want to challenge this freebee in terms of if you can prove you are working (the Gov wants us to work until we drop) then why not introduce some sort of exemption to this pass for the over 60s who can prove they work so that they can enjoy their supposed free travel. Otherwise why issue this pass at all? When you are paying anyway and might as well use a solo ticket? Yes I appreciate that you can use it any other time on any other transport up to midnight but this pass is useless to me during the weekday mornings. I also intend working past 65 so the national one will be the same I should imagine. Any advice or suggestions or should I just thank my lucky stars and shut the hell up? :rotfl:And just looking for ways to save money too:)

soolin

ironpetal wrote: »

Cant find posts relating to this so thought I would post it here.

I have a free bus pass, the regional one, which is great but I also work full time and even though I am 61 it is still costing me 50 quid a month on the bus for just my morning journey to work because you cant use this pass before 9.30 week days. I want to challenge this freebee in terms of if you can prove you are working (the Gov wants us to work until we drop) then why not introduce some sort of exemption to this pass for the over 60s who can prove they work so that they can enjoy their supposed free travel. Otherwise why issue this pass at all? When you are paying anyway and might as well use a solo ticket? Yes I appreciate that you can use it any other time on any other transport up to midnight but this pass is useless to me during the weekday mornings. I also intend working past 65 so the national one will be the same I should imagine. Any advice or suggestions or should I just thank my lucky stars and shut the hell up? :rotfl:And just looking for ways to save money too:)

An opposing view point would be why should a 60 year old worker have free travel to work yet a 59 year old colleague have to pay?

If someone works at 60. , and I suspect most of us will do so, their income hasn't suddenly decreased the moment they wake up on the morning of their 60th birthday. If people are retired then it is fairly likely their income has decreased, so may need extra assistance to travel around, but as they are time rich and possibly cash poor they can travel when it is less crowded.

So people working and earning and wishing to travel in the rush hour pay fares, those not working can use the pass to travel freely at other times.

PasturesNew

Be careful what you wish for .... if the bus taking you to work isn't making any income, it'll be axed.

soolin

Oh, and worth noting that the age limit for new claimants is now higher.

Bettie

soolin wrote: »

Oh, and worth noting that the age limit for new claimants is now higher.

Thanks for saying that . I am 62 and thought I was still not entitled so was wondering how someone of 61 gets one?

PasturesNew

Rather than all this nonsense of free bus passes.... and bus companies withdrawing buses as they're full of freebies .... I'd rather see a system where older people pay a fixed £1 when they get on the bus, that then gives them free travel for the rest of the day. Keep it a low price, but "something". And/or maybe £15/month for those who do want to go traipsing about every day.

Horseunderwater

When I started driving buses, an OAP pass was for 1/2 fares after 9am weekdays & bus coy got the 50% off the council, so 100% fare was paid. For 60/65 alike. When they brought out new scheme, the councils decided to lower their subsidies to a max 33% leaving a shortfall of 66% to be found by bus coy's & lots of routes got axed as fuel prices rocketed at same time. So we had a full bus, but no revenue. How do you run a route with no revenue? You don't. Our village lost all bus runs then. Dial a ride does one of them. Oh & it's not free either. Age discrimination was used in the early noughties by a man to win on getting his bus pass at 60 instead of 65 & that then became the norm. Now I think it is same age as females who can get pension credit, so some will be able to get a BP before state pension age, but it will depend on your local council & the scheme they offer. Worth looking it up on your local council website to check.

Buzby

Bettie wrote: »

Thanks for saying that . I am 62 and thought I was still not entitled so was wondering how someone of 61 gets one?

Because it was illegal to discriminate based on age. Men did not get any benefit until they were 65 (females 60). This was harmonised some time ago, and all became valid at 60. Someone of 61 gets one by applying for one, not by assuming they are not entitled. Your local council website will advise where to get the relevant form. Look for 'concession travel'.

As to how long 60 is the entry age will last is anyone's guess - if may return to 65 for all, or be scrspped entirely - it will be up to your elected government to decide.

frank777

Make up some of the shortfall with the £200 Winter Fuel Allowance if you were Born on or before 5 July 1952, it's not means tested and you have to apply if your not on benefits.


Correction - you don't have to apply for the Winter Fuel Allowance, if you don't want it!

MoneyMate

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass
Hope this helps ?

Mojisola

Bettie wrote: »

I am 62 and thought I was still not entitled so was wondering how someone of 61 gets one?

The qualifying age is women's pension age which is changing each month.