Pistolpete2

Pretty much covers the area south-east of Canterbury:

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/uploads...ap071012mm.pdf

Mallory

Don't forget you have to pay the council tax (property tax) on top of the rent. (That's a lovely flat)!

cheers

Lets see, if they do away with the free bus pass will they do away with the council tax?
I don't think they come out of the same fund but they may?

dunroving

There have been rumblings of means testing these and other "old age" benefits (winter fuel allowance, TV license).

Pistolpete2

It seems that council tax raises about £25 billion. Not something that they are likely to do away with.

Mallory

I think when the flat rate pension comes about it will see the end of the free bus pass, heating allowance, etc. for most people.

We were in England this past summer, and went on a scenic trip with my cousin and her husband. This consisted of part steam train and part public transportation by local bus. My cousin and her husband are quite well off, government pensions and inheritances, etc. Own a villa in Spain.

When we got off the steam train, we got on the local bus for a few miles, which was quite expensive! Cousin and hubby hopped on free with their passes! They were quite amused at us paying!

One of my brothers uses his heating allowance every year to pay towards a fly fishing trip in Ireland! He winters outside of the UK.

All good things must come to an end!

Sally Redux

It just doesn't make sense really. My Mum gets the free bus pass, TV licence and heating allowance although she gets a decent pension from my Dad's occupational scheme and a very good state pension (I don't even understand why the state one is so high). Although I'm happy for her, I don't think it's sustainable or even right.

dunroving

The problem with means testing is that it costs so much and probably doesn't recoup enough to make it worthwhile.

The problem with removing all old age benefits is that it penalises the less well-off (even the new £150 per week or whatever isn't a fortune).

The solution is to continue with universal benefits and simply use income tax to recoup from the well-off retirees.

[That's not my idea, by the way it was Mr Edward Milliband what came up with it - and a good idea, IMO]

cheers

I agree with this. Don't touch that bus pass. That's messing with things. Older people in some cases have their driving privileges removed and have to use the bus. If they take away the passes then replace it with door to door pickup for seniors.
Lastly, how many cars are kept off the road because of the free bus passes?

Cheers

Sally Redux

So give everyone a free bus pass and keep even more cars off the roads.

ldollard

Sorry to be a downer, but I think that takes the piss and that's what's wrong with the UK.

None of them need to be taking those benefits but under the current system they are allowed to, the new change cannot come fast enough so that the people that really need it have it, and those that don't and who take anyway are left to pay their own way as it should be.

Zen10

100%. Piss-takers. Bottom line is they don't have to claim that money and it just shows when you legislate you must consider that humans will do the most greedy thing possible and base the law on that assumption.

ldollard

I've never taken benefits of any kind in the UK. That's not to say i wouldn't if i didn't need to, but my dad worked usually over 100 hours a week as a chauffeur in London to support us when my mum left, he never once even thought about benefits. So its just the way i was brought up.

Why take something for free, when you can work for it and its truly yours. That's the way I see it anyway.

chris197337

It's based on the contributions (what they used to call "stamps) " she has made throughout her working life.

Sally Redux

Not really. She worked for a short time and in those days married women could elect not to pay NI. The letter from the DWP says she has inherited her husband's pension, and she's actually getting more now than the two of them together got when he was alive.