Forum Topic

Freedom pass use restriction

The Covid restrictions have been lifted. But not the early morning usage time for the freedom pass that was introduced at the time of the Covid outbreak. I think it should be lifted asap.

Stella Ellis ● 1646d37 Comments

I agree. I fear it may never be lifted.

Susan Kelly ● 1646d

Wasn't it always the case that you weren't supposed to use the pass before a certain time? (I've forgotten what time that was!)

Anne England ● 1646d

It used to have to wait until 9.30 am to use the Freedom pass, not it is 9 am.  But if you have an early appointment at Charing Cross or Hammersmith Hospital for instance, you would need to pay on public transport to get there before 9am.  Should extend the use of Freedom Pass to 24 hours seven days a week.

Caroline MacMillan ● 1646d

It's now from 9.00 a.m. on the tube but may be after 9.30 a.m. on national rail services. Can't see it ever being changed as twerp Khan needs the extra money for his advertising campaigns, sorry to make up the money that the government have taken away from tfl.

Peter King ● 1646d

From your post, I understand that 'twerp' Khan is 'sorry to make up the money that the government have taken away from tfl'.

Anne England ● 1646d

I thought the restriction ended at 9.30am on tube and buses so pleased to learn  it is 9 am.  Recently found that it is easier to get an appointment with the GP before 9.30am so perhaps this restriction is why.However, last night found my old Oyster card.  Took it to the tube station this morning to find it still had £15.50 on it.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1646d

He's always sorry about something, usually ''the government''. There have been posters on here that have summed up how much money tfl waste with seemingly no control over how they spend OUR money.

Peter King ● 1646d

There are also people who waste OUR money by having Freedom Passes just because they can and never using them.  Have you thought of that?  I do agree about the problem of not being able to use them for hospital and clinic appointments. Hospital transport can be a nightmare and a friend recently had to wait more than EIGHT hours to be transported home after a hospital appointment.  They wouldn't let him take a cab.

Philippa Bond ● 1646d

'Wasn't it always the case that you weren't supposed to use the pass before a certain time? (I've forgotten what time that was!)'It was until 2012, Anne, then a man called Boris Johnson who wanted to be re-elected as mayor bought votes by scrapping that. I wonder what became of him. Is he is prison yet?

Susan Kelly ● 1646d

How do they waste money by having a freedom pass ? I thought it only charged when tapped and used.

John Southey ● 1645d

As far as I know, Local Authorities pay for the passes. I, too, have known people to claim the pass and never use it.

Anne England ● 1645d

There is some background history about the Freedom Pass on Wikipedia:-https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_PassAnd information about how it is funded here:-https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/download/file/fid/3212It looks like originally cost was incurred even if the pass was not used but that now it’s only when the pass is scanned during travel. See paragraph 28 from the above link28. While costs were originally apportioned on the basis of pass numbers, the introduction of smart card technology enabled actual usage to be determined. Following arbitration in October 2008, apportionment is now based on the actual usage of each pass where this data is available.

Michael David Rowe ● 1645d

..and most of it is paid for from parking revenue and by people driving through Grove Park!

Peter Evans ● 1645d

So LTNs are pro-elderly people after all.

Paul Campbell ● 1645d

I used mine on t' bus before half nine yesterday and today, no double bleeps on the card reader.

Keith Iddon ● 1644d

Or have I mixed it up with the Oyster photocard for over 60's?

Keith Iddon ● 1644d

The Freedom Pass is a wonderful thing..for us oldies particularly. Travel on most English buses between 9.30am and 11pm weekdays..and at anytime at weekends.The added bonus of being able to travel free on those posh Elizabeth Line trains to Maidenhead and Reading is a treat indeed.

Jim Lawes ● 1644d

You can use the bus from 9am, not 9:30. Freedom Pass and 60+ have the same rules in London.

Susan Kelly ● 1643d

"But if you have an early appointment at Charing Cross or Hammersmith Hospital for instance, you would need to pay on public transport to get there before 9am."Yeah, but the wonderful Rishi has now raised State Pensions by 3.1% from April so the pensioners should easily be able to afford to pay the one way bus ticket of £1.50 to get to their hospital appointments on the rare occasions they are 'forced' to travel before 9.30am

Steve Taylor ● 1641d

You are out of date regarding bus prices.

Phil Kay ● 1641d

"You are out of date regarding bus prices."Am I? Then I apologise!  I haven't used a bus since Covid. So what is it now £2.50 or.....?

Steve Taylor ● 1640d

I was curious so I had a quick google and it seems that bus fare is now £1.65  instead of £1.50.  It is a sad day when the UK doesn’t pay enough State Pension for someone to be able to afford to take a bus to a hospital appointment on the rare occasion that they can’t use their Freedom Pass and they have to cough up £1.65 of their  ‘own’ money!

Steve Taylor ● 1638d

A dog with a bone. Lol

Stewart Jones ● 1638d

Actually the £1.65 isn’t “strictly speaking, their own money; it’s a government handout in the form of a state pension.  We shouldn’t really complain that the UK State Pension is one of the lowest in the EU. We could have remained in the EU and pushed for parity with Holland, Germany, Denmark, France etc etc etc.

Steve Taylor ● 1637d

“ We could have remained in the EU and pushed for parity with Holland, Germany, Denmark, France etc etc etc.”And the pensioners wouldn’t need to go cap in hand to the little mayor begging to be allowed to travel for free before 9.30 am on the odd occasion.

Steve Taylor ● 1637d

Pensions are paid in all your working life not exactly handouts.

Janice Evans ● 1637d

Yes, a pension is not a 'handout'.

Andrew Jones ● 1637d

Lots of people get State Pensions and they have never worked. It's called a handout.

Steve Taylor ● 1637d

While pensions are classed as a benefit, they do normally depend on your having paid NICs for 35 years during your working life.

Susan Kelly ● 1637d

Steve, they have never worked or were unable to work for whateverreason, you cannot group them all.

Janice Evans ● 1637d

Cannot understand why state pension is called a benefit.

Janice Evans ● 1637d

Or is it then linked to other benefits ?

Janice Evans ● 1637d

Susan, you are correct, but you won't convince Silly Steve - once he gets an idea in his head there is no changing it.

Richard Greenhough ● 1637d

"they do normally depend on your having paid NICs for 35 years during your working life."You don't have to have paid in for 35 years to get a State Pension.

Steve Taylor ● 1637d

"Even if you have never worked you may qualify for a State Pension based on your spouse or civil partner’s National Insurance record.People who stayed at home to look after children have been able to receive a payout based on their husband’s NICs."

Steve Taylor ● 1637d

You are deemed to have paid NICs in certain circumstances even if you haven't. Time out of work to bring up children is one of those circumstances. It has nothing to do with a spouse's contributions.

Susan Kelly ● 1637d

Indeed. That’s why it is a benefit or a handout.

Steve Taylor ● 1637d