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.

It would actually be very easy, they could link it to those who quality for pension credit as they already do for the winter fuel allowance.-it shouldn’t be difficult or costly.

The trouble with downsizing is it doesn't always release that much by the time you've paid the estate agent, solicitor, surveyor, stamp duty, removal firm. Then you might find you need to decorate, carpets, curtains. In my house we had a new bathroom to make it easier for disabled husband, new boiler which is reliable and economic to run so might need to do it again. I'm not sure we'd come out with anything.

So my dad would lose his bus pass, because my mum still works.

All sorts of benefits are reduced by overall household income or because the live in partner works. If it isn’t controversial then it shouldn’t be with this benefit.

I think it is controversial TBH, especially when it is a "benefit" such as a bus pass that is issued to an individual.

It's simple. Well off and fit pensioners drive so do not use a bus pass. Pensioners who use a bus pass are either to poor or too unfit to drive. I guess the OP thinks all pensioners should stay indoors. They wouldn't be able to do all the childminding and volunteering they do now if they stayed in.
OP is another idiot who believes that pensioners are all rich - the average single pensioner is on under £14,000, well below minimum wage.

@Bumpitybumper you asked why 65-74 year olds should get bus passes when others don't. You seem to have missed the possible reasons that have already been mentioned, amongst them

1. It increases off peak bus use. Providing passes to people already travelling doesn't. This helps bus companies keep routes open.
2. It keeps cars off the roads. Providing passes to people who don't have cars doesn't.
3. It encourages older people to keep active and involved in their communities, keeping them healthier, contributing to the local economy, and enabling them to volunteer in places where their expertise is best used even if that's not local.

There may well be more but those are the ones that spring to mind.

You may disagree with these reasons but if so you need to explain why if you're going to convince anyone.

I'm particularly bemused by your comment that there should be no subsidies for uneconomic bus routes. Should there be subsidies only for ones that are already paying their way? Or perhaps there should be no subsidies at all, and people shouldn't live in villages unless they can afford their own transport? Tough if you moved somewhere that had shops and services that have now closed, you'll just have to move again.

Very unfair. It's always the people who haven't worked all their lives who get given everything for nothing. I am not begrudging this to the disabled or carers but I am fed up with idle sods ending up with more when retired than people who will have worked all their adult life and are only a couple of quid over the eligibility for the golden ticket of pension credit.

I would expect the majority in this age group are still very active and able to drive, so wouldn't apply for a bus pass anyway so I don't know why you're getting so worked up.

You don't automatically get a pass once you reach retirement age, you have to apply for it, which the majority of pensioners who still drive don't bother doing.

Shameless olds!
Mattresses stuffed with salted away money, sovereigns jingling in their pockets!

You might technically have more assets at this point i.e. house and pension pot, but when it has to support you for the rest of your life it can be a struggle. Having a means of transport particularly for short trips is incredibly helpful and helps prevent isolation.

The very frail are often too disabled to use a bus though. My mum couldn't walk as far as the nearest bus stop. She would have been too scared to use them anyway just in case the bus driver didn't help her on or let her sit down before driving off.

Buses should be cheap and accessible for all, not just the old.

I live in a very popular place for walking and the only people using buses are those with free passes e.g. pensioners. Which means there is no income on buses so it's really expensive for everyone else (except at the moment there is an offer on)

What if they don't want to drive, can't drive, or don't own/need a car, as is the case for plenty of city dwellers. Lots of people prefer public transport, whatever their income.

There are plenty of reasons to support older people, and to recognise their role. But taxes isn’t it.

The national debt has risen for decades (ie their taxes did not even cover their own costs. They borrowed against future taxpayers).

Today’s old people have some of the largest lifetime net-negative impacts on public finances of any generation in UK history. Generations before them and generations after them costed less.

National Insurance is not a pot that gets credited and debited. State pension gets paid from current taxes and from debt.

The national debt is still rising, so future generations will have the same complaint against today’s young.

Anyone who thinks gratitude is owed because of taxes paid (and I guess I agree with you on that point), should be aware the flows run in the other direction.

(I support free bus passes, I think, but for different reasons)

Or they do own a car but use the bus for some journeys - it doesn't have to be either or.

I don't think I know a single person who never takes a bus anywhere even though they own a car

Why are you telling me? It's exactly the point I am making. You are simply taking the opportunity to repeat the point I was commenting on.

You aren’t banned from taking the bus, if you don’t have a free pass you just pay for it like everyone else.

I agree with that.

But this whole thread there have been so many posts along the lines of "why would anyone possibly take the bus if they have the money to drive" which is just ridiculous

All perks should be means tested.

Rancid race to the bottom.

Means testing costs a fortune. Do some research

In some cases, it costs more to means test perks than it does to just roll them out to everyone.

The winter fuel allowance is means tested, it would be extremely cost efficient to tie the bus pass in.

No, the WFA is not. It is only applicable to people who receive Pension Credit, which is means tested.

My dad is not on PC, but if bus passes were means tested, then he would not be allowed one because my mum still works. How is that fair?

The WFA payment applies to the household, as they all benefit. A buss pass is for the individual.