to be annoyed that pensioners are discriminated against getting on the bus before 10

[mattsmith]

This bus pass really annoys me that it only works after 10am, lots of pensioners still work full time and need the bus to get to work.

Princess - means testing in general is a bad idea. Its a slippery slope.

A bus pass obviously on its own is not an incentive but so many pensioner benefits are now becoming or are being considered as 'means tested'.

Pensioners on full benefits are often better of than pensioners who have saved. Indeed, a pensioner that saves loses everything when they go into care so why not just spend the lot or give it to relatives?

I strongly feel everyone ought to pay something to travel on the bus (and for prescriptions - but that's a whole other rant!) but that it ought to be discounted for certain groups of people. Giving people "free" stuff encourages them to abuse it - NHS anyone?

WitchWay - yes the NHS free prescription is truly abused.

My MIL (again) says some of her pensioner friends get prescriptions for over the counter drugs they could buy and then hand them out to friends and family. The attitude is, it is 'free' and I am entitled so I'll have it even if I don't actually need it.

For the relatively few people who need dangerous and or expensive drugs or heavy regular medication then yes free prescription is necessary. For a pensioner with ordinary aches and pains then a tub of skin cream, pain killers, indigestion remedies are not an expensive item and are available over the counter and generic drugs are way cheaper than branded versions of the same medication.

Frankly, my GP surgery would be a desolate wasteland without the pensioners going in for free prescriptions.

If we did not have the stupidity of putting the clocks back in the winter so it starts getting dark before 230pm and schools finish at 3 in some cases, then retired people might feel more willing and confident to go out in the afternoon in the winter time, so that there was not a second rush hour in the morning. Then time limits would probably not be such a restriction.

Given the cost I read worked out at about £3-£4 per week for the provision of the free bus pass, I think a larger pension and a flat fare all day for retired people would be better.

It's not just pensioners, disabled people can't use them before 9.30 in my city.

I am visually impaired and am entitled to one. It's annoying because it doesn't work out cheaper for me to buy a weekly pass for the number of pre-9.30 journeys I do. That, and it means messing about looking for change

I'm not working at the moment, but it was still annoying when I was.

YABU because it's not discrimination really, it's just another condition of carriage.

oh I imagine half the things children get prescribed could be purchased over the counter as well - damn under 16's abusing the system

I get free prescriptions just for having a dodgy thyroid - shocking really but very welcome

gordy presumably you need continuous lifelong care.

As it happens so do I. Still don't get free prescriptions though.

nope I just need a continuous dose of Thyroxin

Yabu.......and you know it. Conditions of free travel no discrimination in fact everyone but pensioners have been dark instead absinthe re free travel....

Yabu the twirly's are very annoying.

gordy

I do think the thyroid thing is a hit weird when you think of other things that don't mean a free prescription

Not going to complain about it though...as I need it too

Bus passes around here start a t 9.00am. It's up to your Council what time of day they're prepared to start paying your fares via your pass.

yes Rufus I find it odd - it would be more sensible to make just Thyroxin free rather than everything

Have a jelly baby x

gordy

God yes!!!! Forgotten all about that!!!

Loves me a jelly baby...makes me come over all Tom baker

(Which just looks wrong now I've seen it written down)

All prescriptions are free for everyone here in Scotland.

I would struggle to be able to afford most of my medication if I had to pay, I would find it somehow but it would mean not eating or having no heating or hot water at all.

Maybe I'm wrong to depend on my free bus pass and medication, but I'm very grateful for them.

Yes Gordy my mum has an over active thyroid too and also has always got all of her prescriptions for free how terrible,of you both !!

YABU

pensioners seem to get up at the arse crack of dawn and would no doubt invade the buses where school kids and workers need to get places on time so YABU

x2boys

Sorry, what?

Terrible of us both or terrible FOR us both?

Mines underactive

I was being faecitous I know you have to have thyroxine it makes you I'll if you don't so I think its reasonable with this condition peopled get the rest of there prescriptions for free and yes sorry my mums is interactive too I got it the wrong way round sorry!

Bloody spell check it makes you ill not I'll and under active not interactive .,

x2boys

Don't worry, it's me!!

Should not be on here at this time of night...I have no brain at the best of times!!

Its fine reindeer neither should I.

I don't understand why people get annoyed when they see children sat on bus seats.
My children were always told to take a seat, I used to pop my babies on my knee of course. My son had problems with his eyes when he was a lot younger and often he would go slightly blind for a couple of minutes (no longer happens thank god)
The amount if times we were tutted at for sitting on bus seats was amazing. I never said anything, I just tutted back.

Thank god I don't need to use the bus anymore.

My 25 year old brother was also harassed on the bus by pensioners for sitting in the front seats. He had an ear bashing and was ordered to move by the pensioners. In the end he just got off the bus and waited for the next one.
He had internal injuries after serving in Iraq. He was in a lot of pain.

I couldn't get the bus, I would end up strangling someone.