7 December 2021

Bus Pass

One of the perks when you get to state pension age in England is that after possibly contributing to the country's coffers for around 50 years they give you a pittance to live on, plus a free bus pass.

Incredibly, in a world where private companies know how much toilet roll you bought and when, the UK Government expects you apply for the things you are entitled to.  

State Pension? Apply for it and quote your National Insurance number.  That tells them all about you. How much tax you paid over your entire lifetime. How much national insurance you paid to get your pension and medical cover. But the ten page form asks you to do all this again!

Bus Pass? Simply quoting the same National Insurance number should be sufficient. They can see from that when you were born and whether you are old and decrepit enough to be eligible for one.  But.... No.  Another form to fill in to APPLY for what is rightfully yours. Repeating all the same information as the State Pension Form! https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/travelling-around-kent/bus-travel/bus-passes/bus-passes-for-older-or-disabled-people

Anyway. 

Once it arrives I don't think I will be using it as much as the lady in the article from the scuzzy red top  paper The Mirror. She has completed a tour around the country using only her free bus pass.  Amazing. 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/grandmother-75-makes-2200-mile-25619642

I'll use mine for days out to save petrol money using the car when I have no urgency and don't need to take Reggie.  He hates buses almost as much as squirrels and cats.

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