Freedom passes no longer completely free.

[SweetiePi3]

During lockdown, people with freedom passes were not allowed to use tfl transport before 9.30 am. This took away their right to be used 24 hours. Since lockdown this has not been revoked. Do tfl think that people with a freedom pass never need to travel before that, whatever the reason?

Exactly. OP, you're coming across as very entitled.

I think it's a shame that if it was possible to use it at any time before that this is curtailed, I don't think it should be a race to the bottom.

I think it's a shame that if it was possible to use it at any time before that this is curtailed, I don't think it should be a race to the bottom.
It's always been off peak.

The Senior's Pass in London is better than just about everywhere else in the country. They can get one from age 60 - it's 66 everywhere else. They get free travel on bus, tram, underground, DLR and TfL Trains from 0900 and National Rail from 0930.
Where I live it's buses from 0930 and half-price rail from 0930. One of the bus companies (Stagecoach) allows free travel before 0930 if you show your pass and your hospital appointment letter - the other companies charge adult fare. Hospitals (and GPs etc) know the rules and try to avoid making early appointments for seniors who use the bus.

The one problem I've heard about in London is people with disabled passes reaching 60 and on renewal receiving a senior's pass. It is the borough's fault and anyone affected by this should demand their borough switch them back to a disabled pass so they can continue to travel free before 0900.

I think it's a shame that if it was possible to use it at any time before that this is curtailed, I don't think it should be a race to the bottom.

I hardly think giving 60+ year olds free travel after 9:30am across London is anywhere near 'the bottom'

Entitled? She has had something taken away that was available before. The people that use the freedom passes also pay for it through council tax, some of which goes towards it. You’ll get it when it is your turn and you’ll be grateful for it. A lot of pensioners are not very well off. You only have to go onto any facebook pensioners thread and you will see that. The state pension is £800 a month. A month! A lot of people only have that to live on.

Oh come on! Everyone knows that as a demographic the over 60s are the richest group. If the OP can't afford to pay for fares they can wait till 9.30 which is a benefit the rest of us can't

SweetiePi3 · Today 22:16
Hollyppp · Today 22:00

Old people don’t need to be going around in commuter rush hour (unless going to work, in which case pay for your commute).
If it’s for hospital appt, just move it til later in the day
Just move it to a later time? That sounds so nice and easy. The last time I had to reschedule it could only be 3 months before a slot was available. You want to live in daily pain for an additional 3 months?”

With respect, you could buy a ticket.

It wasn't available before. So yeah, entitled.

Over 60's have to wait until 9:30 to use bus passes in our town. Makes sense if they aren't working.
London public transport is miles better than anywhere else. I'd be thrilled getting it free after 9:30.

@SweetiePi3
I'm not sure where you attend a hospital but many have patient transport schemes, where you can apply in advance to be collected for your appointment.

I don't live in London, but I used my elderly person bus pass for years to come home from work. I had to pay to go there in the morning because flexi started at 10 AM and I wasn't sure I could always get there for that, plus I didn't fancy the late finish. I was also getting the state pension so I was still ahead.

What's really shocking (to me) is that everyone in the whole country gets free prescriptions once they reach 60

Yes, there are rich pensioners. However many are poor. I’m one of them.

I think it's more shocking Scotland has abolished prescription charges altogether

Where I live the sixth form college is a train journey away but because the students are 16-18 they have to pay adult fares and the student railcard only gives them a reduced rate at peak times if the fare is over £12.

Of course they were, but it would be no surprise to anyone involved in the decision making re freedom passes that the 60-66 age group still go to work, given state pension age. I wonder if the bus driver thought this was a new discovery.

I think people with free freedom passes can pay for the privilege if they need to travel during peak times occasionally. Nothing stopping them from doing so, OP.

@Rainyrunway
You do know many pensioners only have a state pension, not everyone lives a MN lifestyle retiring on massive private pensions.

Not everyone knows that because it’s simply not true. There are rich and poor people in every age bracket. Many people are working past retirement age because they simply cannot afford to not work, to the detriment of their health

It also seems to be missing the point that it isn’t restriction of the freedom pass that’s the issue if you can’t afford £2 to get to a hospital appointment. It’s poverty. That would be a better thing to tackle than extending use of the freedom card.

Historically, that pre-9.30 restriction was always there, as it is outside of London. So it's not the erosion of a long term perk. More a correction.

But they were allowed before 9.30 up to 2020 without all these dire consequences happening.

Why assume that elderly people have all day to travel around? As pointed out, people frequently have to travel early to medical and other appointments, and being 65 doesn't exempt you from things like caring responsibilities which may require travel.

Do you mean over 60s? The richest group? My husbands parents use this with over £3m in their accounts why should we pay for the old when they have SO LICH MONEY

It was available before 2020. Why do you say it wasn't?