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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Everyone in the UK that is 60+ should get free local train and bus travel at any time

224 replies

magapiemag · 02/01/2017 09:23

Why is it just people in London that get this? Everyone 60+ should get this to make it a fair system. Plenty are 60+ and not retired so still work and free bus and train travel would be a very welcomed. Is this more of London creaming the goodies for its self and letting the rest of the country with a inferior service?

OP posts:
Reality16 · 02/01/2017 15:18

They do, as do disabled people. Well after 9.30 we do actually you don't. I looked at your link and it's not age 60 it is female state pension age, for me that is 67.

mismo · 02/01/2017 15:20

Well said, and for those who don't think 60 is elderly, well I'm 62 as previously stated, had open heart surgery last year, have osteoporosis in my hip and also have cataracts, I'm slower at thinking as well as moving, age catches up with all of us eventually.

BackforGood · 02/01/2017 15:22

You don't get your bus pass untill you are 65 here. No train travel though.
I've always thought it would make sense for every person who uses their bus pass on a journey, had to pay 20p or something.
It wouldn't price anyone off the bus, but, the culmination of all those 20ps would help contribute towards some of the cost.

My gripe at the moment is having to pay full price for my dd to travel to school because she has turned 18, even though she can't leave school until the end of the school year Hmm

ilovesooty · 02/01/2017 15:29

I don't think 60 is elderly. At 60 I have had a hip replaced due to osteoporosis but I'm still perfectly capable of full time employment plus self employment. My brother in law is a year younger and has had a quadruple heart bypass and I don't consider him elderly either.

I don't think there is any justification for giving out free transport at 60 to anyone who is working.

Elendon · 02/01/2017 15:33

So it's perfectly ok for a 60 year old male to have a child? Or even to have children in Y3 in secondary school (in real life)? They are 'fit' males after all.

Bobochic · 02/01/2017 15:33

The provision and price of public transport in the U.K. is a total mess. Schoolchildren shouldn't have to pay to go to school by public transport. Older people should be encouraged to stop driving and to use buses. The more buses the better.

mismo · 02/01/2017 15:34

That's nice for you and your brother,

ilovesooty · 02/01/2017 15:43

Brother in law.

I think it has affected him health wise but he's fit to work and not elderly in my view. I certainly don't consider myself elderly at all and if I'm working and earning I don't think I should be getting free local travel.
And I think that applies to all over 60s in work.

mismo · 02/01/2017 15:47

Not everyone's health is equal, I had a heart valve replaced, I'm on lots of medication, which tires me out, I'm still hobbling around waiting for treatment on my hip on top of this I'm going blind, I am not working at the moment but have to sign on, no one will employ me.

Oldbutstillgotit · 02/01/2017 15:53

In Scotland everyone is entitled to free bus travel , at all times , at age 60. I still work but no longer have travel costs which saves me a small fortune for which I am extremely grateful .

ilovesooty · 02/01/2017 15:57

mismo I was referring to 60 year olds in work. I said that more than once. I'm sorry your health is poor but you could apply for ESA? I still don't think that because some people are in poor health before pensionable age it justifies giving all 60 travellers a free bus pass.

brasty · 02/01/2017 15:59

Apply for ESA? Bloody hell you do know that benefits for chronic illness and disability are getting harder and harder to get.

ilovesooty · 02/01/2017 16:03

Yes brasty I do. I work in employment and guidance. However if someone in poor health has not applied for ESA they won't get it.

expatinscotland · 02/01/2017 16:11

'I'm sorry your health is poor but you could apply for ESA? '

Haahaahaa!!! Then her JSA will be cut off until the app is processed. You do realise she needs the money to live on? You don't just smoothly transfer from one to the other. My mate got kicked off ESA - she has had two knee replacements, one hip replacement (she was a nurse) and COPD. They made her go on JSA. For 8 weeks until she reached pensionable age.

mismo · 02/01/2017 16:15

I've just been taken off ESA, my assessment was a complete farce, I can nod my head, see to read while wearing my glasses and funnily enough get two buses on my own to reach the centre, along with too many to mention other discrepancies that don't give a true description of my day to day living, the whole thing is corrupt.

ilovesooty · 02/01/2017 16:20

I'm sorry to hear that - you sound in poorer health than some people whose applications are successful - at least on appeal.
However it doesn't alter my view about the transport situation. 60 year olds shouldn't be in receipt of free bus passes purely by virtue of being 60. I'd sooner see free passes for people on JSA to enable them to get to their many often mandatory appointments.

limitedperiodonly · 02/01/2017 16:21

I had no idea that children visiting London could get free transport. I have paid a fortune for that in the past. I doubt many people know that.

I don't have children under 12 Brasty. The reason I know about the exemption is because on every MN thread saying: 'I'm coming to London on holiday' people pile in with tips including free travel for under 12s if you get photo ID.

I don't know how you've managed to miss it but at least you know for the next time.

brasty · 02/01/2017 16:23

Most don't receive bus passes at 60. In most places you have to get your state pension before you get a bus pass that entitles you to free off peak travel. Anyone who is still working beyond pension age, is unlikely to be able to use that to travel to work.

expatinscotland · 02/01/2017 16:23

'you sound in poorer health than some people whose applications are successful - at least on appeal. '

And they don't get paid all the time they are waiting for that.

mismo · 02/01/2017 16:23

Thank you, I know I can appeal, but I'm too tired and too depressed to be bothered with all it entails.

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 02/01/2017 16:23

I think people genuinely believe every single pensioner in the country is hard up in a pokey flat unable to afford heating and bread. Many are, but there are so many wealthy pensioners and no they shouldn't get free transport just because they're of a certain age.

brasty · 02/01/2017 16:26

Honestly I get really fed up with this line of argument. No wealthy pensioners don't need free bus passes for off peak travel. But it costs more to assess who needs one, than they money that would be saved. So the real question is do we give hard up pensioners with poor mobility free off peak bus travel, or do we scrap this benefit altogether?

limitedperiodonly · 02/01/2017 16:27

And sorry to bang on about it but if you go to staffed ticket booths on the Underground the person will usually tell you the best option as will TfL staff supervising ticket barriers. Bus drivers are okay too. Londoners can be a surprisingly helpful breed

DarthPlagueis · 02/01/2017 16:27

Its easily sorted.

If you have enough as a pensioner to be eligible for taxation, you don't get it, or the £250 allowance.

If you don't you qualify.

ilovesooty · 02/01/2017 16:27

Exactly brasty and I think that's fair enough.