Bus Pass

[Tilly2]

Yesterday, I applied for my state pension, on the phone. It was a bit of a long winded process but all went well and I got my figures and my payment date.
I forgot to ask about my bus pass. What do I do about that?

[furrypusscat]

Bus passes are issued by the County Council where you live. Local councils used to issue them but certainly in Lincolnshire the County Council do them now. You can download application forms and supply a photo or you may have to personally visit. Look on your County council website where it will be listed.

[mallyh]

i phoned our county council x

[sunny-dave]

When you are over the age when your pension actually starts, get in touch with your local authority - you will need to download and fill in a form (or get one sent to you).

You then need to submit it with photos.

Some LAs have facilities for taking bus pass photos and filling in the application form at their Libraries.

[Tilly2]

Thank you both.

[furrypusscat]

Forgot to say you will also have to have Identity documents to prove age. There is no charge.

[Tilly2]

Thanks, dave.

[furrypusscat]

I believe you should also get Winter Fuel Allowance if you don't already. It may depend when the cut off point is for age qualification. That should be issued automatically if you qualify this year.

[Tilly2]

I forgot about that as well, furry. When he asked me if I wanted to defer my pension, I said , 'No thank you, I have waited long enough.'

[mikey4444]

We have our bus passes at age 60 here in the Glorious People's Republic of Wales ( ! ) and I got a simple application form in my local Post Office. I filled this in about 2 months before my 60th, the Post Office sent it off for me and the Bus Pass arrived, along with my birthday cards, on its very first day of validity !

Marvelous service, although I don't use it much I'm afraid.

[furrypusscat]

This link explains cut off date and date of birth rules for Winter Fuel Allowance.

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/what-youll-get

[grasscarp]

I have a Freedom pass which gives me whole of London underground, local trains and buses in whole of uk. Love it.

[grasscarp]

Like Mikey mine was through the post office.

[Tilly2]

Thanks for the link, furry. I don't qualify for this winter. My birthday is a bit too late. Should be ok for next year, though, unless they move the goalposts again.

[Tilly2]

Do you have to pay for a Freedom pass, grassy?

[mikey4444]

If only Swansea had a Tube Grasscarp ! I would make much more use of my Pass if it did, instead of these slow, horrid buses, with wonky wheels and springs that we have now. Boggler, boggler, boggler...all the way down the road...it plays murders with my sciatica !

[grasscarp]

No Tilly it is free. If I moved 2 miles down the road into different borough I would not have it.

[mikey4444]

Freedom Pass ::::

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedompass/eligibility/default.htm#age_check

[Tilly2]

I see. It's a London borough pass. Thanks.

[Dee Sa]

I have the same as you grassy and I love it and I am grateful for it, saves me a fortune on the tube and I take myself for days out in the nice weather to places like Richmond at the end of the line, I would never move out of the area and loose the tube concession.
Tilly you will need 2 passport photos when you go to apply plus I.D. passport probably the best and a utility bill to prove where you live.