bus fares for carers

Replies

By Tricia

Re: bus fares for carers
Sat 16 Feb 2008 10:10

Hello papanna

That must be only in certain areas where the carer goes for free if they accompany their caree. In the area where I live the carer has to pay if they are with a caree even those caree's who have a travel pass.

I do run a car but to be honest for how much longer I really don't know it is a huge struggle. (Have managed to only travel 100 miles this last month to cut back on the fuel expenses) I have to cut back on other essentials in life such as food and utility bills to keep the car on the road. My son gets the low rate mobility which does help a little bit but no where near enough to maintain a car.

To others yes my son could use public transport with support but again it is me that will suffer of raised stress levels up another notch!

By nat38

Re: bus fares for carers
Mon 18 Feb 2008 17:43

you should also get a pass for national rail you and the person you care for get reduced rate your son should also get a bus pass free my daughter has had one since the age of 8 even though we dont use it to much now as we get high mobility and get the car it always comes in usefull.

By papanna

Re: bus fares for carers
Mon 18 Feb 2008 22:15

Hi Tricia
If you live in Scotland you can travel free any where on the busses as long as the caree has a bus pass with a companion on it . Most bus drivers are quite helpful, but you do get the odd one that just sits there and watch you struggle. The rail passes are good too, and if you phone ahead the ststions have ramps for wheelchair use

By Kairen

Re: bus fares for carers
Tue 19 Feb 2008 15:11

Never heard of a free companion pass. (When I had some cancer treatment I was too poorly to drive myself and had to pay for a taxi £40 a day! I later found out I might have been eligible for free transport)!

By papanna

Re: bus fares for carers
Tue 19 Feb 2008 18:46

Hi kairen
This card was to replace the pensioners and disabled cards that were used in the Strathclyde area of Scotland. Now you can use the cards all over Scotland on the busses. Both pnesioners and disabled are eligable for them If you can't get out and about yourself you can get a card with the letter C in the right hand corner which means you can have a companion to help you, and they also travel free. If you live in Scotland check with the Social Work Dept and they will give you all the details. Have you tried patient transport, when you have to visit hospital for treatment, they can organise a volunteer driver to pick you up and take you there and take you back home.

By coffee

Re: bus fares for carers
Wed 20 Feb 2008 16:40

HI when I go on the bus where I live I have to pay.

2 weeks ago I did receive my free bus pass not because of my age but I have epilepsy which tends to gives me giddy turns so I cannot drive I had a lot of trouble getting this pass so I dont think they would give free passes to carers except maybe if you was asylum seeker etc they seem to get everything and they don't even come from this country oh well that's England coffee

By welfare

Re: bus fares for carers
Wed 20 Feb 2008 16:52

From 1 April 2008 the National Bus Pass can be used all day Saturday, Sunday and Public Bank Holidays and between 0930-2300 Monday- Friday. Carers or Companions will not receive free travel unless they are eligible for a pass themselves. However, additional benefits may be offered by individual Local Authorities. For more info see www.direct.gov.uk

By Leah03

Re: bus fares for carers
Tue 1 Jul 2008 01:46

I think its absolutley terrible, what some people have to do just to get transport, but people are being told the correct services to get everyhing. Now im 20 i carer for a young woman, she have usher syndrome type 1. I care for her nearly every day, and all i get is carers allowance which isnt enough!!! Before i took care of her two years ago i got income support, as soon has i started to care for her i got my income support deducted, i feel US as carers are being pinlised for doing something the government should be doing YET! they pai trained carers 4 times as much! and US a little, as if too say thats you paid for, now go!
Im a student for god sake i work already as a full time carer i cannot work anymore, its such a strain on me! I get NO help whats so ever, and all governement can do is give US CARERS lousy pay outs which suppose to help they think but is DOES NOT! NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST! Cant they just give us the money they give to trained carers, or even still TAIN US so we can at least be allowed to earn that much without futre worry! Cant they give us CARERS FREE BUS PASSES??? Not fair on the people who have to use public transport like my self everyday which i have to pay myself out my 70 every week , which simply goes like a shot, its ridculous, i have no idea how i make ends met seriously! WHERE S THE HELP WE NEED EH ! FINACIALLY WE DONT GET IT! just silly!
Governement makes us ILL if you ask me! putting us all under pressure when we dont have to be, They forget WE NEVER NEVER ASKED TO BE CARERS, WE DOING IT OUT THE GOODNESS OUT OUR HEARTS! They have no consideration for any of us, if they did they would be doing something to help!!

By shevvy

Re: bus fares for carers
Thu 3 Jul 2008 16:57

welfare i dont think its fare that i have to pay for bus fares it costs me 3 40 per day , my other half who suffers with voices and ceeing insects every day and has to go to the local hospital three times a week it gets very expensive ,he has got a free bus passfor the next three years shevoun

By moonstar

Re: bus fares for carers
Fri 4 Jul 2008 22:32

I live in Northern Ireland and there are no free passes for disabled people. Once you are 16 if you fit into a very limited list of qualifying conditions, you can apply for a pass which entitles you to pay half the single fare.

If I take my son to Belfast to see his Consultant, I am able to re-claim bus fares because I get full Child Tax Credits (just as well cos it costs £25 by bus each time!!) but Im not able to claim to take him to physio, etc, as they are not appointments with a Consultant.

I dont drive so I have no option but to use public transport or taxis if buses have stopped running to my village (after 6pm! and no service on a Sunday) as my son is unable to walk long distances due to him being hemiplegic and dyspraxic - all of which affect his balance and ability to walk for any length of time. He is also autistic which can make things difficult when we are out.

Luckily the Education Board provide a taxi for school (although it is now the summer holidays here and I am waiting to hear whether they have sorted his taxi for when he starts secondary school in September - Im sure I will have my annual row with the transport office! They think I should just stick him on the bus and hope that he remembers to get off it when it arrives at the bus station and then walk along a main road for 15 minutes to get to school!)

Sorry - was starting to ramble then!!