- 1. Service Description
Travel concessions provide financial support for elderly and disabled people
using Public Transport.
The concessions offered include :
i .A National bus pass (available from 1 April 2008) which entitles the
holder to free travel on public bus services in England or
ii. A rail exchange voucher which can be exchanged for either for a senior
rail or disabled rail card. These cards entitle the holder to a discount of one
third of most rail fares or
iii. National Transport Tokens to the value of £24, for those aged 60 to 69
and £30 for those aged 70 or over. If you are wheelchair bound, blind
or partially sighted the value of tokens will be £50. Where it is difficult or
impossible for you to travel independently and you are wheelchair bound, blind
or partially sighted the tokens will be increased to £75 to allow a nominated
carer to travel with you.
- 1. Service Standard - Application Timescales
Application Timescales
Applications for travel concessions made in writing will be acknowledged
within 10 working days.
- 1. Service Standard - Distribution of Travel Concessions
Distribution of Travel Concessions
Travel tokens will be available from local halls and other issue points
during May each year, details of the dates and venues visited are published in
the spring edition of Partners. They can also be collected from District
Council offices or from Bramshott and Liphook Parish office from the beginning
of May each year. Application forms (available from the beginning of April) can
also be collected from your local issue point, council offices, library or sub
post office (during April only). If you collected a concession in the previous
year, a letter will be sent out to you at the end of March inviting you to
renew your concession.
- Am I eligible for the Concessionary Travel Scheme?
Provided you are a permanent resident in the East Hampshire
district and meet one of the following conditions:
a) Men and women aged 60 years or over
b) Disabled (walking difficulties)
c) Disabled (without the use of both arms)
d) Disabled (deaf with speech/deaf without speech)
e) Severe learning difficulties/disabilities
f) Profoundly deaf
g) Unable to speak
h) Blind
i) Partially sighted
j) Driving Licence refused/revoked on medical grounds
- Applying for a concession - what documents will I need?
If you are over retirement age you must bring something which proves your
date of birth such as:- pension award letter/medical card/driving licence/birth
certificate/passport.
If you are claiming under one of the disabled categories or for the
additional concession, you must bring one of the following documents:-
HCC Social Services registration card/DVLC forms D206 or D235/Proof of
Disability or Incapacity Allowance/Doctors or Social Services letter confirming
your disability/Attendance Allowance (higher rate)/ Mobility Allowance (higher
rate/Disability Living Allowance (higher rate).
Please make sure you bring the correct documentation with you.
- Are additional concessions available?
If you are wheelchair bound, blind or partially sighted, your total value of
tokens will be £50 (documentary evidence is needed to support this). Where it
is difficult or impossible for you to travel independently and you are blind,
partially sighted or are wheelchair bound, you may also nominate ONE regular
companion/carer to receive £25 of tokens for use when they accompany you. The
companion/carer tokens are for use only when accompanying a concession holder.
The value of tokens will be reduced for those collecting tokens after 1 July
2008.
- Do I have to collect the concession in person?
You should apply for your concession in person. You may nominate someone else
to collect your concession for you in certain circumstances and they must bring
documentary evidence to support your claim. Your nominated carer/companion must
accompany you to the issue point if you are applying for companion tokens.
- How do I apply for my travel concession?
An application form can be collected from post offices, libraries and
council offices from the beginning of April. If you have previously claimed
travel concessions you will receive a renewal letter at the end of March which
you take with you when you collect your concession. It will save you time if
you fill in the form before you collect your issue. If you are nominating a
regular carer/companion, they must accompany you when you collect your
concession.
- How much am I entitled to?
Your entitlement is dependent upon your date of collection and is as
follows:
Aged 60-69
Between 1 May & 30 June 2008 £24.00
Between 1 July & 30 Sept. 2008 £18.00
Between 1 Oct. & 31 Dec. 2008 £12.00
Between 1 Jan. & 28 Feb 2009 £6.00
Aged 70 and Over
Between 1 May & 30 June 2008 £30.00
Between 1 July & 30 Sept. 2008 £24.00
Between 1 Oct. & 31 Dec. 2008 £18.00
Between 1 Jan. & 28 Feb. 2009 £12.00
Additional Concession
Between 1 May & 30 June 2008 £50.00
Between 1 July & 30 Sept. 2008 £37.00
Between 1 Oct. & 31 Dec. 2008 £25.00
Between 1 Jan. & 28 Feb.2009 £12.00
Additional Concession with Carer
Between 1 May & 30 June 2008 £75.00
Between 1 July & 30 Sept. 2008 £56.00
Between 1 Oct. & 31 Dec. 2008 £37.00
Between 1 Jan. & 28 Feb. 2009 £12.00
After 28th February 2009 no further travel concessions for 2008/2009 will be
issued. Only one issue is available per person during the concession year.
- National Bus Pass - 1st April 2008
From April 2008, the National Bus Pass will allow you to make free journeys
anywhere in England, including the Isle of Wight. This excludes Express
Coaches and certain limited stop services. The new pass will be valid for 5
years from 1st April 2008 until 31st March 2013. If you decide to change your
bus pass to another type of concession, this can be done at the start of the
new issuing year in May.
The National Bus Pass can be used at any time of the day seven days a week
within the East Hampshire district only but may be subject to restrictions to
off-peak times (9.30am - 11.00pm) in other areas. This will mean that if your
journey will take you into another area before 9.30am you may not be able to
use your bus pass.
When the pass is used on the buses in London it cannot be swiped, due to not
being compatible with the Oyster system, but must be visually inspected by the
bus driver.
- What happens if my financial circumstances change?
The concession is available regardless of income.
- What types of concessions are available?
The following options are available:
- National Transport Tokens. These can be used on taxis,
voluntary cars, minibus schemes or the railway but please check with the
operator when booking your journey that they will accept the tokens.
- A Rail Exchange Order worth £24 together with an additional
National Transport tokens to make up your entitlement. This will allow
you to buy a Senior Citizen Railcard. (Note: The Disabled Persons Railcard is
£18 and so this option would allow for a £18 Rail Exchange Order and the
balance of the disabled persons token allowance).
- A National Bus Pass valid until 31 March 2013.
This allows free travel for single or return journeys on most bus services
within England. One current passport sized photograph is needed.
- When will I receive my National Bus Pass?
Once you have submitted your application for the National Bus Pass we will
process it as soon as possible and you can expect to receive your pass in about
7-10 working days. It will be posted to you directly from the company
producing the pass.
- Where and when can I collect the concessionary fare?
You may collect the concession during May 2008 when it is available from
issue points arranged at village and church halls throughout the district.
From May, the concession can also be collected during normal office hours
from the Council Offices at Penns Place, Petersfield and Bramshott and Liphook
Parish Office, Midhurst Road, Liphook The concession will also be
available from the following issue points at the end of the month:
Alton Information Office
Horndean Parish Office
Bordon Information Office
Please feel free to contact Customer Services at East Hampshire District
Council on 01730 234101 for further information or check the Spring edition
of the Partners magazine for dates.
- Where can I use the tokens?
The tokens can be used on all bus and train services in the area. They are also
accepted by Community Care Groups and Age Concern Minibuses. Journeys must
start or end in East Hampshire. The tokens are also accepted by more than 40
taxi firms within East Hampshire, but it is always wise to check that they are
acceptable before your journey.