Pensioner's 'perks' under review.

brewerdave

With the "free" bus pass there is always the argument that its use reduces congestion and pollution.
For instance,I use mine ~ twice per month to travel into our local "town" where car parking is a nightmare to go to the hairdressers,bank or a specific shop. I've also used it recently to travel to the main hospital where parking is totally impossible (and hideously expensive even if you find a space!!) Should they remove my pass, I'd be driven back into the car for these journeys rather than shell out a fiver each time
Furthermore, the majority of the users of our local bus service are pass holders.If you struck a number of these out of the system, either the bus service would cease to run or would require an even heavier subsidy from the local authority than it already has.
We have just had "car free day" -don't think getting rid of bus passes would help with that campaigns aims ,would it??
Perhaps the age limit should be lifted to 65 ?

xylophone

Perhaps the age limit should be lifted to 65 ?

In general terms, ( not London) it is increasing with female SPA?

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass

Cardew

p00hsticks wrote: »

Actually I'm not sure it's as simple as that.

I believe the concessionary subsidy funding formula is quite complicated but effectively the bus company only receives any money for journeys that would have been made even if the traveller hadn't had a bus pass.

For many of these journeys therefore, the bus company is effectively letting people travel for free and receiving no funding for doing so.

Interesting!

I don't have a bus pass but I have asked a couple of friends who do use them. They are not aware that their journeys are recorded by the bus driver, they just wave their pass at the driver, and the 'regulars' don't even bother.

However the statistics state that the 9.8 million pass holders use their pass on average 102 times a year. So are those journeys recorded by the driver or perhaps the on-board camera, or do they just take a sample and extrapolate?

In the Gov. link I gave earlier it gives the subsidy the bus companies receive 'per journey' (a few pence) for every passenger. In my area the trips are mainly a couple of miles or so on 'hopper buses'.

If the subsidy is 'per journey' surely these local trips can't attract the same subsidy as on some of the long distance bus routes of 50 miles or more??

33Lurcher

On the buses I use , you place the pass on pad next to the driver and it bleeps and records the journey , same for trams here but the recording sensor is on the platform and its the responsibility off the pass holder to scan the card (not monitored) . Trains you just show pass to staff on exiting the station (Manchester) .

Tammykitty

Silvertabby wrote: »

“Person 1 would get the basic £119 plus SERPS/SP2.
If they were low earners, and their basic plus SERPS/SP2 is less then £155 per week, then (as long as they don't have any other pensions or savings over a certain limit) they may get pension credit to take them up to the magic £155 per week.

Only if they are single - a couple both getting the basic state pension will not be entitled to pension credit (As the Pension credit limit for a couple is £237!


My parents, have both started to receive there state pension in the last year or so - neither of them are receiving over £155 - Dad has worked from 16, mum took a number of years off when we were young, but probably still has around 30 years of contributions and got credits for Home Responsibilities - so both are entitled to the full state pension.


They are not alone in being in this situation.


For women, in this position, yes they have received their pension earlier than women retiring after 5th April, however men are still retiring at 65 (Until about 2019 I think).


A woman born on the 5th April 1953 - retired on 6th March 2016 (And receives the old state pension).
A woman born on the 6th April 1953 - retired on 6th July 2016 (And receives the new state pension)


Woman A will have received £1,547 by the time Woman B retires.
Woman B will be getting £36 a week more - so after 42 weeks, will have caught up with want woman A has received in total, and will continue to get £36 a week more.

SailorSam

nickcc wrote: »

Presumably if you don't use your pass then there is no charge on the taxpayer. Just because you receive one doesn't mean that you are using it and costing the taxpayer money, perhaps you could confirm this is the case ?

Last week i went on a tour of the Mersey Tunnel, there is a lot more to it than just a hole in the ground. People in this area often complain about the charges when they're going up. In the 1930s when the tunnel was built, the promise was that it would be free, once it was paid for. One of the questions that someone asked the guide was .......... "What happens to all the money"
He told us that the tunnel made a profit of £20 million a year, and that went to subsidize the ferries, and the fact that we get our bus passes at age 60. It's all part of Merseytravel.

GibbsRule_No3

BTW does anyone know how much child benefit costs the country and why do children get free bus/train passes? If they stop or means test SPs then perhaps those can be looked at as well. I mean why is there a payment for having children never worked that out, at least most people who receive the SP have hopefully worked at some stage and contributed. With the free OAP pass I'm guessing we are going somewhere to spend money, thus contributing to the nation and keeping other people in work.

nickcc

SailorSam wrote: »

Last week i went on a tour of the Mersey Tunnel, there is a lot more to it than just a hole in the ground. People in this area often complain about the charges when they're going up. In the 1930s when the tunnel was built, the promise was that it would be free, once it was paid for. One of the questions that someone asked the guide was .......... "What happens to all the money"
He told us that the tunnel made a profit of £20 million a year, and that went to subsidize the ferries, and the fact that we get our bus passes at age 60. It's all part of Merseytravel.

I remember where quite a lot of the Mersey tunnel toll went back in the early nineties and it certainly wasn't to whoever ran the tunnel.

SailorSam

nickcc wrote: »

I remember where quite a lot of the Mersey tunnel toll went back in the early nineties and it certainly wasn't to whoever ran the tunnel.

And the guide also told us stories about how in the dim & distant past, when tickets weren't given out, the men on the toll booths would just hold their hands out as motorists drove past.
But then that happens everywhere, and not just in this Country.

xylophone

I have the 60+ card in London, that I paid £20 for but my understanding is that it cannot be used on the Railway until after 9.30 Monday - Friday

basically the case but see

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/adult-discounts-and-concessions/60-london-oyster

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/using-pass/national-rail