To think free bus passes for the old should be abolished?

[Bumpitybumper]

Statistics show that on average wealth peaks at age 65-74 in the UK, why then do we give these people free bus passes? It makes absolutely no sense at all and is just an unnecessary expense. The idea that 'young' pensioners are a relatively poor group of people is completely incorrect and it only serves to enhance the already massive intergenerational wealth gap between baby boomers and everyone else.

Why not go the while hog and abolish the old altogether!

It should be means tested. My FIL absolutely doesn't need a free bus pass. He owns his own home, has multiple pensions and owns a range rover. He's well off and could afford a bus if he needed one.

I think it's part of a bigger equation, which actually makes sure there are bus services for everyone.

Definitely means tested. For my Mum before she died it was her freedom

What a ridiculous response! Can you justify why you would offer the wealthiest group of people in our country free bus passes when almost everyone else has to pay?

There are plenty of older people who don’t have much spare cash, despite outright owning a home - that money is in their house not at their fingertips tips.
Besides - are wealthy pensioners on the bus all the time? Not using their nice cars or taxis??

We definitely don’t need to be encouraging people to keep driving once they are no longer capable, so retaining the bus pass is one way of helping with that.

Perhaps rethink the age, but I don’t think it should be completely abolished.

I thought half of the argument for free bud passes was to encourage people too infirm to be driving from getting in their cars. This I fully support, whatever their income levels!

I’ll presume you’re just being goady rather than completely ignorant. Most of the pensioners who live near me have worked all their lives. Hard work with very little reward. You think it’s appropriate to take away their bus pass now. Words fail me.

Well according to Mumsnet older people are unfit drivers, , and you want to take their free bus passes off them too?

Brilliant idea. I went to the local hospital the other day on the bus and about 50 old people got off at the hospital stop! So not only are they getting a free ride up there, but heading in to make use of the NHS paid for by the rest of us!
I bet they’re all sitting in £1m houses with spare rooms counting their hoarded wealth.

I cannot get my head around charging young adults/children for bus passes to get to and from an educational setting yet my parents who have more money than they know what to do with (think round the world cruises!) have a free bus pass😂 They have TWO cars and both drive!

YANBU

There are plenty of poor people of all ages but they have to pay. Are there financial struggles not as important? Arguably they are penalised more by having to pay because they need to use the bus to get to work or take children to school.

I am sat on a bus right now full of older people and can tell by where they got on the bus that they are no means poor.

I mentioned this on another thread - it’s 60 in Scotland and my boss was on £74k and getting free bus travel for years whilst still working.

Its contradictory to give the old age pension at 67/68 and encourage people to work til their late 60s but give them free bus travel from 60.

so yes, means test it but it’s probably overall one of the less impactful ways of saving money for other more needy causes.

No I don't. It keeps cars off the road. More like no cars for folk that aren't employed.

The ones that need it, use it. The ones that don't need it are driving their cars or getting taxis. I don't think pensioners are riding around on the bus for fun just because they've got a bus pass.

I think there should be free bus travel for all. It would help reduce traffic on the roads which would be good for everyone. I would get the bus into town if it were free but currently it is cheaper to drive and pay for parking, as I need to pay for the car running costs anyway as I need it for work. Also free bus travel would help more people access work.

Not ridiculous at all deary, simply a response to the acceptable 'ism' on MN. There are lots of groups protected, oldies are an easy, cheap shot.

Oh good, another ageist thread. It's been all of two minutes since the last one.

Any measure that gets people out of their cars is a good thing.

Good for them. My dad lives off a state pension, and uses his travel pass to get buses about, and the train for days out which he deffo couldn’t afford otherwise.

On the fence on the England-wide bus free bus pass. Free travel for all over 60s in London is another matter. I've had senior colleagues on seven figure salaries commuting in to work for free because of their age. Can't say it doesn't stick in the craw.

Then they should equity release or downsize. Why should I fund them because all their money is tied up in a massive house?

There are lots of reasons for free bus passes, and things. The fact their money is tied up in property isn't a reason I can get on board with!

I'm in England and we don't get free bus passes until 67. They're also not usable until gone 9 so most people who are still working have to pay to get to work.

Agree. Although I am pretty pissed off at being called old at 66.

You think all homes that are owned outright are “massive”?