Save the Freedom Pass TFL Travel Pass, Sign The Petition Please

[natty01295]

Please Sign the Petition below

Thank you

https://www.change.org/p/dept-of-transport-and-tfl-save-the-freedom-pass-for-london-pensioners

[malumbu]

As far as I understand the current Mayor has resisted ending concessionary travel for over 60s. https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-faqs/what-going-happen-60-oyster-card-and-freedom-pass

He'll continue to get battered by central government.

[natty01295]

Please Sign

[NewWave]

Signed!

[malumbu]

Natty - can you do me the honour of providing me with the evidence that the freedom pass is about to go. There is nothing on the web, nothing in local news etc. Seems to be a bit daft signing a petition for something that is not happening. Publicity would also remind the rest of the UK that they do not get concessionary travel. We are already loathed by much of the country.

I've provided a link to the position in London and understand that Mayor Khan has no plans to get rid, nor do I see that other mayoral candidates are proposing this.

[natty01295]

Its due to covid, TFL there finances are running low so can not afford to continue with the freedom pass

http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/this-must-not-be-beginning-of-the-end-for-pensioners-right-to-their-freedom-pass

https://www.cityam.com/shaun-bailey-vows-to-restore-free-travel-for-pensioners-in-london-mayor-bid/

https://www.trlibdems.org.uk/savefreetravel

[malumbu]

Not really sure how Sean Bailey's manifesto has been read as Khan dropping the freedom pass. A non-story. And if we are that worried we can always vote for Bailey. Central government will continue to take every opportunity to kick Khan, TfL finances were being mismanaged before he became Mayor. If headlines were in the Standard, LBC and BBC I'd be far more worried. Feels futile of having a petition of as a pre-emptive strike, most are dealt with by government in a single line.

[Jules-and-Boo]

The Tory government want to increase fares and stop free travel for school children and elderly.

Sadie Khan had resisted this and TFL have delivered a business plan without these concessions removed.

The Toty candidate had pledged to continue these concessions but - unless he is not influenced by his own party PM, that is a blatant lie to get the votes.

[mrwb]

Surely the freedom should be means tested, even if just on an honour based system?

A lot of people would be honest enough to not get it as they don't really need it, leaving funds for those who actually do.

[alex_b]

Means testing has been demonstrated time and time again to exclude genuinely qualifying recipients either due to not understanding the qualifications, not wishing to be labelled as qualifying or due to administrative errors. The additional cost of means testing is not insignificant either.

As for an honour based system, that already exists - you?re not forced to apply for a card nor are you obliged to use a card for all journeys.

[malumbu]

It's good to debate this. As far as I understand it is the 60 - normal retirement age benefits that are under threat. You can understand why peak hours travel has been restricted - is it right for those still commuting to work to have free travel. I've already argued that it is perhaps best to keep your fingers crossed and keep quiet as public opinion across the country may not be on Londoner's side.

The means testing issue is interesting. We have numerous other financial benefits that are not - you get the same basic tax allowance whatever your salary, although I expect those highly paid will argue that they are doing their bit through higher rates of income tax.

Good point also about the honour system although I expect few would decline the benefit, and that has made me think about myself too!

[hammerman]

Yes it is right for those still travelling to work over the age of 60 to have the freedom pass in London.

There's not many other perks for them.

[KidKruger]

Entitlement should be age, not means, based.

And threshold shouldn?t be raised above 60yrs.

[Pugwash]

Between the age of 60 and 65 you can get an Oyster Card free which allows travel in London. However it does not allow free travel outside London.

Freedom Pass - now issued to those age 65 plus regardless whether working/retired. This also allows free travel outside the London area. If used with an Older Person's Rail card - can greatly reduce cost of rail fares (We use ours with rail card to go from Croydon to Worthing to visit grandchildren).

[Guest]

ACTUALLY is 67+

[Pugwash]

On another point, it is recognized in areas outside London, that their pensioners can get reduced or free travel by purchasing a pass for a set fee i.e ?10/?20 per year.

I would happily pay ?10/?20 for a year's free travel and so would a great many ohers.

[NewWave]

hammerman Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes it is right for those still travelling to work

> over the age of 60 to have the freedom pass in

> London.

>

> There's not many other perks for them.

I am over 60 and a shop assistant on a low wage-I'm so grateful for my freedom pass as I work in zone 1-sadly now I only get free travel coming home as I leave for work at 8am.

I was paying ?1400+ PA to travel before-thats a BIG chunk out of my annual salary.

Thanks to the freedom pass I can now afford not to always take in a sandwich for lunch but to go to Pret if I fancy it.

[OutOfFocus]

I think it it is important to get terms right if the petition is to be listened to.

o 60+ London Oyster photocard comes at age 60 from tfl https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/60-plus-oyster-photocard?cid=60pluslondon#on-this-page-3 .

o Freedom pass comes at age 66 from London Councilshttps://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/older-persons-freedom-pass/eligibility .

The benefits are broadly similar but there are subtle differences.

[KidKruger]

Is there an automatic entitlement to both just by virtue of living in London, or is there a qualification period ie. you must have lived in London for minimum X years ?

[malumbu]

Yes good to explain the difference between the 60+ and Freedom Pass. The Mayor was under pressure to ditch the former, and the compromise was to stop concessionary travel in rush hour. It's sad that there are some low paid older workers who have been hit by that, and that London relies on many on low wages in our shops, office services, security and the like. Means testing that element would have been good, although I expect burdensome. The restriction on concessionary travel in the rush hour is supposed to be temporary but I expect with TfL finances will not be reversed in the short term.

Irrespective of your views on the current Mayor, the government grant was reduced under the last one, who has a tendency not to get into the detail!

Interestingly free bus passes issued to all across the country at the state pension age can be used across the country, not just your local authority area, and some travel by local bus from Cornwall to Cumbria. Perhaps someone had a link - the one I found was on 28 journeys on a hopper fare in London https://citymonitor.ai/transport/i-used-london-s-hopper-fare-take-28-buses-under-hour-150-here-s-what-i-learned-4722 I'll see what Geof Marshall has to say (namedropper...)

[OutOfFocus]

The bus pass part is required by statute. Different councils can add different modes within their area.

For example in Greater Manchester you can pay ?10 and get tram and rail travel.

[Pugwash]

You need to apply, when you are the appropriate age, to claim both 60 plus Oyster and Freedom Pass.

I have had my Freedom Pass for so long ( I initially qualified as a disabled person many years ago and had to produce my 'Green Card' confirming my disability). I cannot remember what I had to produce to get my Older Person's Pass but remember that Southwark Social Services initially dealt with Disabled and Older Person Passes before TFL.