Free bus travel for the over 60s in England

donnajunkie

pineapple123 wrote: »

I live on the south coast and the buses in summer are so overcrowded I usually have to stand and I have to pay for the privilage,

the answer to that is for them to put more buses on. of course they wont do that they just treat customers like sardines.

donnajunkie

alared wrote: »

They pay the lowest pensions in Europe and they couldn`t care less about pensioners who they treat as a burden.

as one of the many currently out of work and having to manage on £60.50 a week i would be partying if i got what pensioners get. a minimum income of £124.05 a week and a £200 bonus at xmas. if they are hard up what does that make the unemployed? i'm not saying they shouldnt get what they get by the way. i just think they need a reality check.

cos69

harryhound wrote: »

.... Also check the web site "buspassheaven" for their clarification of the latest rules.

Thanks for sharing - new to this game, a lot to learn :beer:

alared

donnajunkie wrote: »

as one of the many currently out of work and having to manage on £60.50 a week i would be partying if i got what pensioners get. a minimum income of £124.05 a week and a £200 bonus at xmas.

Get your facts right.
In 2009-2010, the full basic State Pension is £95.25 a week for a single person and £152.30 a week for a couple, but your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get.
They only get this if they have worked all their lives and paid enough stamps.
The Christmas bonus is £10,which it has been for about 40 years.
In todays terms it should be nearer to what you thought (£200)

Obviously,I don`t know your circumstances and I agree that £60-50 dole money is hardly a fortune to live on but that`s the gov. for you.

millie

roddydogs wrote: »

What about the unfair situation that anyone in Greater London can use Tube and Train.........anyone else cant, and before someone posts "Its paid for thru council tax" we pay more than most London Boroughs in Council Tax.

Its swings and roundabouts really as a West Midlands resident we can use the local train service with our pass. Other councils allow residents to travel before 9.30. Ok we cannot have it all but I am extremely grateful for what we get, it is much better than it was before.

donnajunkie

alared wrote: »

Get your facts right.
In 2009-2010, the full basic State Pension is £95.25 a week for a single person and £152.30 a week for a couple, but your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get.
They only get this if they have worked all their lives and paid enough stamps.
The Christmas bonus is £10,which it has been for about 40 years.
In todays terms it should be nearer to what you thought (£200)

Obviously,I don`t know your circumstances and I agree that £60-50 dole money is hardly a fortune to live on but that`s the gov. for you.

if a pensioner has loads of money in the bank or has a private pension as well then that figure you gave is what they get from the state. there is something that exists that guarantees everyone over the age of 60(even men) a minimum income of £124.05 per week. what happens is they get their money topped up to that amount with pension credit. i was joking when i said xmas bonus what i was refering to is the heating allowance. it may not be £200 but it is certainly more than £10.

LittleVoice

harryhound wrote: »

I've used my home counties issued "national" bus pass in London after 09:00 and after 23:00 without any problems.

Also check the web site "buspassheaven" for their clarification of the latest rules.

Does it have anything about the latest rules? If so, can you post the link, please, because I couldn't find anything.

alared

donnajunkie wrote: »

if a pensioner has loads of money in the bank or has a private pension as well then that figure you gave is what they get from the state./QUOTE]

If a pensioner has the above,it`s because they`ve worked hard and saved all their working lives and paid their full stamps.
Nobody has given it to them for free.
A man has to pay NI for 44 years and a woman 39 years to receive a full state pension.
They earned it,they paid for it,unlike the something for nothing,debt ridden culture of today.
From 2010 the government is reducing the number of years to thirty.
I would imagine the reason being that they`ve thrown so many onto the dole that there`s no way the could make up the 44/39 years to get a full pension.
Correct me if I`m wrong but if you claim JSA,you are credited with NI stamps.

harryhound

LittleVoice wrote: »

Does it have anything about the latest rules? If so, can you post the link, please, because I couldn't find anything.

It is better to teach a person to fish, than give them a fish to eat.

I tried this:
(1) Paste into google and click sites-from-uk option:
“book” site:www.buspassheaven.co.uk
<click>
(2) Scroll down to the bottom of the first page of hits & click
"Search the results"
I put "2009" into the window
<click>
Result is below, I soon discovered that National Express has theoretically ditched its freeby pensioners (but is this legal on registered routes?)
Needless to say the current Government is trying to make the bus pass rules as complicated as the tax system.(and that is for users who may well be disabled, educationally sub normal or forced to give up driving by brain problems such as stroke/epilepsy.)

Bus Pass Heaven Forum • View topic - national express problems new ...
Bus Pass Heaven Forum • View topic - Heathrow Hotel Hoppa
Bus Pass Heaven Forum • View topic - Government Consults on ...

Harry

PS If you click on "cached" in the search results you get Googles fast response showing its copy of the web site with your search words highlighted. The page probably still works the same way as the original as far a links etc, are concerned.

donnajunkie

alared wrote: »

donnajunkie wrote: »

if a pensioner has loads of money in the bank or has a private pension as well then that figure you gave is what they get from the state./QUOTE]

If a pensioner has the above,it`s because they`ve worked hard and saved all their working lives and paid their full stamps.
Nobody has given it to them for free.
A man has to pay NI for 44 years and a woman 39 years to receive a full state pension.
They earned it,they paid for it,unlike the something for nothing,debt ridden culture of today.
From 2010 the government is reducing the number of years to thirty.
I would imagine the reason being that they`ve thrown so many onto the dole that there`s no way the could make up the 44/39 years to get a full pension.
Correct me if I`m wrong but if you claim JSA,you are credited with NI stamps.

yeah, people do get their national insurance paid if they are on jsa. i never disagreed with the idea that people work for it and perhaps deserve more. my point was simply that i dont see how anyone over 60 can plead poverty when they are guaranteed a minimum income of £124.05. if they dont have that money from a private pensions etc then the government provide it. at least the heating allowance isnt means tested.