Can't afford new passport

rufuschucklebutty

Pollycat said:

rufuschucklebutty said:

My moan was more to do with the essential document everyone should have but there being no subsidy or reduced fee for those on benefits , why does it cost £95,  which must be mostly for admin when they seem to enjoy making as much admin as possible for my benefits claim, the government love admin. 

Shouldn't a passport be free to all citizens ? 

Why do you think that everyone should have a passport?
I need a passport to travel so don't begrudge paying the fee.

You apparently need some form of ID - but as pointed out above, it doesn't have to be a passport.

Ask your MP why a passport costs £95.

As for your benefits claim, other posters have suggested alternative means for obtaining ID.

If you think about it , you can't leave this country unless you pay £95 to the government for the privilege,  yet a birth or marraige certificate is only £12.50.

Pollycat

rufuschucklebutty said:

Pollycat said:

rufuschucklebutty said:

My moan was more to do with the essential document everyone should have but there being no subsidy or reduced fee for those on benefits , why does it cost £95,  which must be mostly for admin when they seem to enjoy making as much admin as possible for my benefits claim, the government love admin. 

Shouldn't a passport be free to all citizens ? 

Why do you think that everyone should have a passport?
I need a passport to travel so don't begrudge paying the fee.

You apparently need some form of ID - but as pointed out above, it doesn't have to be a passport.

Ask your MP why a passport costs £95.

As for your benefits claim, other posters have suggested alternative means for obtaining ID.

If you think about it , you can't leave this country unless you pay £95 to the government for the privilege,  yet a birth or marraige certificate is only £12.50.

I pay for my passport so I can enjoy my holidays abroad.
Spending 10+ weeks out of the country every year makes the cost negligible per week.
10 weeks x 10 years for £95.
To me, that sounds like a bargain.

But you are not talking about a passport for travel.
You need ID.

So perhaps you can share what you are doing to obtain ID that satisfies the organisations you mention.

sheramber

rufuschucklebutty said:

Pollycat said:

rufuschucklebutty said:

My moan was more to do with the essential document everyone should have but there being no subsidy or reduced fee for those on benefits , why does it cost £95,  which must be mostly for admin when they seem to enjoy making as much admin as possible for my benefits claim, the government love admin. 

Shouldn't a passport be free to all citizens ? 

Why do you think that everyone should have a passport?
I need a passport to travel so don't begrudge paying the fee.

You apparently need some form of ID - but as pointed out above, it doesn't have to be a passport.

Ask your MP why a passport costs £95.

As for your benefits claim, other posters have suggested alternative means for obtaining ID.

If you think about it , you can't leave this country unless you pay £95 to the government for the privilege,  yet a birth or marraige certificate is only £12.50.

But you can’t leave the country  using them. 

Anybody can get a copy of these certificates.
  

There is no photo on them to prove you are the person that the certificate refers to. 

The extra cost is for the proof it provides. You are paying for somebody to provide that proof. 

Murphybear

Pollycat said:

Murphybear said:

I’ve always found that most places will accept a senior citizens bus pass as ID.  

Does that include government departments?
Like DWP?

Anyway, the OP was clearly just having a vent as they have not bothered to answer any questions or acknowledge any suggestions.

When the DWP will ask for identity verification

• Applying for a benefit: You will be required to prove your identity when claiming benefits like Universal Credit, often as one of the first steps in the application process. N/A
• During a Jobcentre Plus interview: If you are invited to a face-to-face interview, you will need to bring identification documents to prove who you are.  N/A
• If you can't verify online: If you are unable to prove your identity online, you may be asked to do so through a phone interview or by attending an appointment at a local Jobcentre or office.  N/A
• For verification or investigation: The DWP may contact you for verification if there are questions about your claim or if they are investigating potential fraud.  N/A

Brie

@Murphybear
I don't understand why these have been marked as N/A.

Pollycat

Brie said:

@Murphybear
I don't understand why these have been marked as N/A.

The OP is just having a moan.
I'm not even sure they need ID.
Best to move along.

EffieTrinketsWig

rufuschucklebutty said:

I live on a War pension and Universal credit pays my rent , there is no spare money for £110 to renew my passport which is my only ID suitable for banks, forms and benefits ect.

How can there be a situation where you need ID to function in life but you can't afford it ? 

In my experience if you tell organisations that the only photographic ID that you have is an expired passport they will humm and ahh about it but so far banks and solicitors eventually cave in an accept it.