stop Clegg removing the free bus pass for pensioners
Nick clegg wants to means test pensioners bus pass which allows them free transport on local buses anywhere in England
vicki gilbert
shared this idea
110 comments
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von
commented
I started work at 15 years old and worked 2 years past retirement age, no time off looking after my child either, when I married the first time I advised my employer that my name had changed as I was now married. I was then put onto a married woman's stamp and when i queried it I was told I would still get a pension when my husband retired. I was not told it would be much lower than if i had been left to pay as a single person! I then divorced and payed a full stamp but only get 17% of a single person's pension. I am re-married now but my husband is 6 years younger than me so I can only get the 17% of a single pension still until he retires and then I do not get a full single pension. Nobody informed us then of what would happen in the future and pensions weren't talked about much then either. Now they want to remove the bus pass the only way I get out a couple of times a week! After working for over 40 years, I feel woman are really still badly treated from our generation. We won't get any of the new pension rates, too expensive I have been told to give it to us pensioners that have already retired. If our governments spent less money abroad and on health care and benefits for immigrants they might be able to look after their own, who have lived here all of our lives, no wonder people are a bit bitter to say the least
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Jenny Banting
commented
being a non tax paying pensioner, I wonder whether I would be treated as a single person or a married person for deciding whether I would be entitled to my bus pass in the future.
People who are wealthy make sure that nothing is left in their names so they can claim anything going. Do not think I would qualify as my husband would be expected to keep me on his small pension.
Working until 68 years old, staying home to look after my children and later staying home to look after my grand children, paying taxes but only a reduced insurance contribution as advised by the then DHSS that I would never have a pension until my husband retired - Quite wrongly of course.
I think I have earned the right to use the bus a couple of times a week, after all those not working do not have to pay, they are just younger than me -
von
commented
I would not be able to afford to get to the hospital for appointments, would only be able to get to the shops once a week. I do not abuse my bus pass and only travel as needed. I am crippled with arthritis in my feet and back and have trouble getting around so cannot drive even if I could afford to have a car. If they take the bus pass away I think I might as well give up the ghost!
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Alison Wardell
commented
On what basis does he base this means testing? He is only squashing the already squeezed middle classes. He has taken my pension from me twice and now the bus pass is in jeopardy. What next? Free precriptions and sight tests? It's costing the nation to means test everyone. Doesn't the coalition have any insight into poverty in old age? Oh I forgot, they are too busy giving benefits to illegal asylum seekers.
Clegg hasn't got a clue and wouldn't be Deputy PM without the coalition. None of their austerity measures make any sense as they are penalising the very electorate who have paid taxes all their lives. -
joe
commented
Sack Him he was not elected for what he thinks.
He is ment to be a spokesman for voters evil man -
joe
commented
He dosent need it shocking comment hes loaded and like all the Librals they are evil remember Glegg how he lied about student fees they should be put in jail for fraud
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Anonymous
commented
Why should a wealthy person of any age have state subsidised anything? A millionaire of pensionable age does not need a free bus pass. If it is means tested money can be saved towards helping those who really need help.
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chandra
commented
nick clegg. you are a very nasty person, to stop old peoples pass and winter fule payments, why not stop people like all these tax credits you give out to mums some off them with live in boyfriends, and the hook liveing in a big posh house paid by your goverment, it would seem you and mr cameron take it out on old people, why not the banks insead,
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would love more £
commented
will nick clegg have a pension of £650 per month (included 200 private pension) i bet he will have100 times more than that leave bus pass be! perhaps i should go and live in ireland i would be well off thank you.
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Anonymous
commented
The chancellor did not mention our bus passes, he dare not !!!.
However watch this space somthing may happen when we least expect it. I trust no one in government. -
C Kelly
commented
How can this be fair?. Compare the example of Irish pensioners who get Free Travel which includes not only buses, but Railways,(countrywide) Ferries, Free TV licences, Free telephone service, Free heating. Also benefits ie. Child allowances at a rate of 140 euros a week, and a basic old age pension of 236 euros a week, along with Free medical services.They pay no Council Tax. Pensioners in UK should be aware of this and revolt.
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WED Uckworth
commented
So,it looks like the government want the elderly to stay in their own homes, by making it more and more difficult for them to leave it. The insurance companies make using their cars too expensive. Public transport companies are really only interested in running routes that make them money. Taxi is expensive - some local taxi companies are marvellous others openly discriminate against a 1 km round-trip to the shop. Train? You still have to get to and from the station ...
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Anonymous
commented
rich mps do not know what it is like to have very little leave our bus passes alone.
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Anonymous
commented
leave bus passes to pensioners alone we get very little free and i worked hard for the country for over fifty years it gives me a little pleaser to travel around and visit places instead of being alone at home.
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Anonymous
commented
cleg is rich and does not have to worry about transport. however there are a great many pensioners on the bread line and removing the bus pass will see people going without food to travel to doctors or hospital appointments. leave the bus pass alone it is a lifeline to pensioners.
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Anonymous
commented
pensioners need the free bus pass to survive as pensions are to small to live on. pensioners can bring economy to shops in the area when they use the bus pass. also the buses in the daytime would be empty and running at a loss so who is going to gain out of this no one.
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Maurice
commented
Okay, take all the less poor folks, including ones who still don't have cars whether for weath reasons or other practical reasons. How will you let them keep the practical benefit of being able to move around the bus network freely according to practical journey need, without constant absurd impractical obstruction of, oh but my fare only covers this company not that company. While this practical benefit does not need to be free for everyone, it strongly needs to be available to everyone. To shrink its coverage makes life worse, less practical again.
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Anonymous
commented
Ithink bus passes should be means tested as should state pension and winter fuel payments this will prevent rich people from getting them and free up more money for pensioners who ARE without means and are amongst the poorest members of our so called civilised society.
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joan
commented
Many pensioners who pay tax actually receive less money than pensioners who get bennefits and do not pay tax when you add up the cost of their total benefit package.
i.e. housing rent, council tax, supplementary pension and some get disability allowances/attendance allowances too. To removethe benefits outlined from all tax paying pensioners would marginalise a large majority of them and make them substantially worse off than pensioners on benefits. -
Andrew Rendel
commented
I think it's a shame that this comments board has been so knee juerk on this question. I understand why rich pensioners wouldn't want this (poor pensioners wouldn't be affected) but many of the other commentators don't seem to have really considered the issue.
We live in an era of difficult choices. I'd prefer a slower reduction of the defiict, and yes I'd prefer the process to be waited more towards tax rises than the current preference for cuts but the "pensioner perks" just don't make sense (unless you're a rich pensioner!)
For pensioner's who aren't able to or don't want to access busses, tv's etc. these benefits are useless. I would support Nick Clegg on this one and even suggest he goes further. All free bus passes, t.v. licences, winter fuel payments etc. should be removed entirely and the savings should be spent on increasing benefits for the poorest who are being hit really hard in the current recession.
This would be fairer, simpler and more efficient. Though of course it doesn't have such good headlines for the politicians...
