the other day about the Givernment considering changing the system whereby all pensioners get free bus travel - instead entitlement will be means tested - I for one think this is a very good idea - it got me wondering what other ppls thoughts on this were??
Replies sorted oldest to newest
As with any means tested benefit though they are usually so hard to get the ones that really need them may end up not applying....administratively it must be cheaper just to issue to everyone.
quote:Originally posted by FGG Aka Crocodile Rock:
As with any means tested benefit though they are usually so hard to get the ones that really need them may end up not applying....administratively it must be cheaper just to issue to everyone.
apparently not - I think they said something like it could save around ÂĢ1million per year!!
Pensioners have been the ones paying into the economy of this godforsaken country since they were youngsters. Why would you means test them on anything they might be entitled to?
quote:Originally posted by cologne1:
Pensioners have been the ones paying into the economy of this godforsaken country since they were youngsters. Why would you means test them on anything they might be entitled to?
True - but there are a lot of pensioners out there with a lot of money who get free travel when other ppl who also contribute to this country with a lot less money have to struggle to pay for their travel and I don't think that is very fair!!
oh let them get the bus free, they only go to Tesco and back... it can't be costing us that much 
quote:Originally posted by SazBomb:
oh let them get the bus free, they only go to Tesco and back... it can't be costing us that much
according to the artice I read it is costing the economy quite a lot!!
quote:Originally posted by Pretty_P:quote:Originally posted by cologne1:
Pensioners have been the ones paying into the economy of this godforsaken country since they were youngsters. Why would you means test them on anything they might be entitled to?
True - but there are a lot of pensioners out there with a lot of money who get free travel when other ppl who also contribute to this country with a lot less money have to struggle to pay for their travel and I don't think that is very fair!!
Sorry, but you are talking carp.
quote:Originally posted by cologne1:quote:Originally posted by Pretty_P:quote:Originally posted by cologne1:
Pensioners have been the ones paying into the economy of this godforsaken country since they were youngsters. Why would you means test them on anything they might be entitled to?
True - but there are a lot of pensioners out there with a lot of money who get free travel when other ppl who also contribute to this country with a lot less money have to struggle to pay for their travel and I don't think that is very fair!!
Sorry, but you are talking carp.
why??
quote:Originally posted by Pretty_P:quote:Originally posted by cologne1:
Pensioners have been the ones paying into the economy of this godforsaken country since they were youngsters. Why would you means test them on anything they might be entitled to?
True - but there are a lot of pensioners out there with a lot of money who get free travel when other ppl who also contribute to this country with a lot less money have to struggle to pay for their travel and I don't think that is very fair!!
The pensioners out there who have lots of money don't use public transport. They drive around in their fancy new cars.
are u that one from c4 who does all the ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!/1/11khdksdkfnjd shit?
The thing is that it often costs more in administration to process and check applications for means tested benefits than it does to just give them universally if the benefit in question is cheap such as bus passes.
In London I know that a bus pass also entitles the user to free tube travel and free train travel within the LT Zones but even then I still think that any savings made would be eaten up by admin costs
In London I know that a bus pass also entitles the user to free tube travel and free train travel within the LT Zones but even then I still think that any savings made would be eaten up by admin costs
Did you know that if you have a disability that prevents you from driving you are entitled to one of those magic bus cards. You don't have to be an OAP.
My son has epilepsy so cannot drive He is 22 and has a bus pass.
He only learnt about this entitlement when the really nice lady behind the counter in our local post office told him about it...
My son has epilepsy so cannot drive He is 22 and has a bus pass.
He only learnt about this entitlement when the really nice lady behind the counter in our local post office told him about it...
quote:Originally posted by Pretty_P:quote:Originally posted by FGG Aka Crocodile Rock:
As with any means tested benefit though they are usually so hard to get the ones that really need them may end up not applying....administratively it must be cheaper just to issue to everyone.
apparently not - I think they said something like it could save around ÂĢ1million per year!!
ÂĢ1million a year is a measly amount seeing as they UNDERPAID people entitled to DLA by ÂĢ260million last year...
I have no objection to pensioners having free bus travel, but I wish it could also be applied to the unemployed who are actively seeking work.
quote:Originally posted by riversider:
Did you know that if you have a disability that prevents you from driving you are entitled to one of those magic bus cards. You don't have to be an OAP.
My son has epilepsy so cannot drive He is 22 and has a bus pass.
He only learnt about this entitlement when the really nice lady behind the counter in our local post office told him about it...
yes..funny how they never really tell you what you are entitled too when registered with an 'invisible' disability (or any really). i've found that out. all the help and advice i've found out about have been through word of mouth or forums.
quote:Originally posted by riversider:
Did you know that if you have a disability that prevents you from driving you are entitled to one of those magic bus cards. You don't have to be an OAP.
My son has epilepsy so cannot drive He is 22 and has a bus pass.
He only learnt about this entitlement when the really nice lady behind the counter in our local post office told him about it...
I have a disability that prevents me from driving but I can't get on the bus.
Thats why I never bothered applying for my free bus pass when I reached 60. My eldest daughter has a bus and a train pass because of her disability but she has to pay a fee for it. Sorry I tried to edit but I lost my internet connection. She gets a free bus pass but has to pay 50p for each journey. She pays ÂĢ25 per annum (I think) for her rail pass but only gets a third off the cost of her journey. So she doesn't actually get free travel on public transport.
quote:Originally posted by Hypermnesia:
I have no objection to pensioners having free bus travel, but I wish it could also be applied to the unemployed who are actively seeking work.
When the pensioner passes were first introduced it was planned that the system would be expanded to cover other groups such as the nemployed. sadly now that the economy has tanked it won't happen.
Bearing that in mind it might be fairer to means test the bus passes. But they do keep so many dodgy drivers off the roads... down here on the retirement riviera bus passes are extremely popular.