Bus Pass and TV licence petition

What do you think about the BBC having a separate bank account into which people outside the UK could anonymously donate? That way pensioners might not need to pay for their licence.

In France we have to pay for tv (even if we don't watch French tv) and the fee is added to the habitation or fonciere bills (I forget which but they are similar to rates) We watch English tv as we are within the reach of the UK satellite(s).
Mainly the BBC channels.

Provided that I use a VPN I can watch catch up tv whenever and wherever I want anywhere in the world. Admittedly I do have to state that I paid the tv licence when I signed up to I-Player. Radio is available, free, anywhere in the world, using a computer.

no-brainer, not no-brainier.

I think taking the bus pass away would be false economy. For some it’s their only way of getting out to meet friends, groups etc. Without it many people would be isolated and depressed, and increased mental health problems would mean more strain on the national health service. The other problem is without elderly people using the buses, bus companies would cut more services which in turn would effect the whole bus using population, which tend to be people with lower incomes who can’t afford other forms of transport.

And apparently every £1 spent on the free travel generates nearly £3 to the wider economy. It’s a no-brainier really. And yes, I think it should be extended to everyone on a low income.
greenerjourneys.com/blog/free-bus-pass-older-people-benefits-everyone/

I can’t wait to get mine.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to scrap the free bus pass, when its benefits to public health are so obvious. Especially in these times when we should surely be doing anything we can to restrict car use.

www.nhs.uk/news/older-people/free-bus-pass-is-ticket-to-good-health/

Although, many on here are still not eligible for a freedom pass or prefer to drive and perhaps resent contributing to the cost of it all I would add that unless it’s continuance is supported by you it certainly won’t be available when you need it.

I stand by what I said Humptydumpty, the free tv license is only available to 75 year olds and over anyway, so many pensioners on Pension Credit don’t get it. I don’t get it, I’m not old enough, but I don’t need it or want it. The money should be used to give a free tv license to ALL pensioners on Pension Credit, regardless of their age, not just to pensioners who don’t need it, because they’re over 75. My own mother gets it, she was disappointed that it will end, but she doesn’t need it, so I reminded her that she doesn’t need it. She agreed.

Agree with maddy

There are people right across the age range who are lonely, or isolated or on low incomes - I'm not clear why this perk should only be available to older people (such as my dad and MiL who have incredibly health pension incomes)?

Pension credit has to be applied for - it is estimated that over 1 million people who are entitled to it have not applied. There can be many reasons why this is the case, unaware they are entitled to it, not having family to help them with forms or because they look upon it as charity.

Whatever the cause, those people will suffer hardship without a bus pass and having to pay for a TV licence.

The cost of means testing would far outweigh the cost of continuing with these "benefits".

Bus passes only cost the local authority money when they are used - if someone feels uncomfortable having a bus pass they are free to pay the fare

maddyone "The rest of us can afford them" - gross and untrue generalisation, I completely disagree. People who don't drive have no choice but to use busses, and just because yuou are comfortable off, don't assume that everyone who does not receive pension credit is in that position.

For those people who don't need bus passes, what's the issue? Just don't use it - it's not compulsory just because you have one.

Totally agree Maddyone.

I certainly won’t sign it. Pensioners on Pension Credit will still get free tv licenses, and probably bus passes. The rest of us can afford them. Many pensioners have their own cars anyway and rarely use their bus pass. My mother aged 91 no longer drives but she doesn’t use buses, she relies on my husband or myself for all her transportation. I know there are massive numbers of pensioners who simply don’t need these handouts, I’m one of them. Protect those on Pension Credit only.

Of course there is the extremely important point about free bus passes that it helps elderly people to socialise, and therefore helps to reduce loneliness.

Personally I give thanks for my bus pass every day.

Lovetopaint, I very much agree with your post. Though one part I disagree with is working pensioners should not get free bus passes. Im sorry , but no one else paid for me to go free to my work. As I won't get my pension till 67 and IF I get my free bus pass it wont be for years. Why should we subsidise pensioners to travel to work? I still have to pay my own bus fare. For retired pensioners- yes, they should still get it. As for free TV licence, sorry , it should be means tested. If you can go on holidays abroad, you can afford a TV licence , if television is important to you. I think the free TV licence should be for people on Pension Credit/low income only. I pay mine each week at approx £12. Most pensioners I know are never out the Travel Agents, if they can afford that, they can afford a TV Licence. I know this post wont be popular, but it is my opinion. No one has to agree with me.

Well I use the bus on a daily basis. In my area it is a life line.
We go shopping locally and generally get out and about. The bus stops are full of elderly people who would otherwise be dependent on cabs or other people. So many I encounter can no longer drive. We also go up to London on our freedom pass which is something we couldn’t afford without great difficulty. This allows us to visit museums, the National Gallery etc. and other free places of interest. When the elderly are out just locally we talk. People on buses who are living on their own chat and interact with the outside world. They also spend money in shops, markets, cafe’s. Visit clubs for the retired and pursue hobbies. Also, we are not using the car unnecessarily. In fact take away the freedom pass and those who can still drive will be on the road causing pollution and congestion. I plead to retain it for several reasons, not least to maintain the mental health of the disabled and elderly ninety year olds I encounter struggling on to public transport in an attempt to maintain their independence and dignity.

Doodledog it would seem so reading some of the posts on here about those who are buying/choosing new cars. New !

That's true sunseeker, not all retired people are able to afford to run a car, or possibly pay bus fares on a regular basis either, irrespective of availability of services, but there are other groups of people who are just as hard up, even more so. It is a conundrum, but like GillyBob, I am unlikely to ever get any pensioner 'benefits' anyway, in fact I have joked ( I hope) that by the time I finally get there, I will 'be' the winter fuel allowance.

As many other have said not all pensioners are “comfortably off” and to them the bus pass enables a degree of freedom to shop and socialise, and a free TV licence is a godsend for the poorest providing companionships and entertainment.

We’ve are a wealthy country and should be able to support both the young and the old who need help .
It should not be a case of either /or ,which causes divisiveness and intolerance .

One thing that's not often mentioned re bus passes - they keep an awful lot of cars off the road! They do around here, anyway, and I suspect in other areas with v good public transport. I use my car an awful lot less since I had mine, dh ditto.

OTOH I do sometimes feel guilty for having it when dh and I could afford to pay fares - but then we'd v likely take the car instead, as we did before.

I agree that it's unfair that people like me and dh get free transport, when younger people who are struggling with hefty rents/mortgages/childcare, have to pay.

It wouldn't be a bad idea if it were liable to be taxed, if you were above a certain income. IMO that would be fairer, as long as you could opt not to have a bus pass, if (like my sister and BiL) you live in an area with virtually no PT anyway.

GillT57 Whilst I agree there needs to be an improvement in bus services - that wouldn't help the elderly unable to afford the fares.

Not everyone has a private pension or savings. I am thinking of those who worked in low paid jobs with no work place pension, rented their home from the local authority and now rely on public transport to get around.

The notes at the bottom are all important growstuff our accountant at work advised me to get a full forecast and being born in 1962 means I will retire in the year I am 67 The month of birth depends on when exactly . Mine is 67 and 4 months . Not getting excited yet as it’s still 10 years away unless the goalposts are moved again or I don’t make it that far. It’s not nice to wish your life away. But that what I do . Spend Monday’s wishing it was Friday.

Shall I spend 2019 wishing it were 2029 ? I don’t think so .

I don't understand how you work that out. This is the latest timetable:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310231/spa-timetable.pdf

Of course, it doesn't mean that it won't be reviewed upwards again, but it hasn't been yet.

Perhaps it woujd be better to campaign for improved bus services for all rather than bus passes for those over 65? Cutting rural bus services affects many people, youngsters trying to get to college or part time jobs, parents trying to fit in part time jobs with school pick up times etc.

My biggest worry is for my DH Auntieflo. He is 67 and trying to work like a 30 year old . His health is not good and yet he has to try and keep going as we have nothing else . We worry about the lads jobs too.

I do use my bus pass, and so does DH, and we are grateful for it on every journey. We can no longer walk into town and it saves having to use the car.
As to the TV licence, DH is now 80, so we have had it free for 5 years, and would gladly pay for it , if and when it is taken away.
Gillybob, I do feel for you that the pension age has moved, and we know how hard you work. I would have felt so cheated, if it had happened to us. Also I don't know how we would have had the health to work for longer.