I was looking forward to my bus pass in August and have just found out I will have to wait until January 2011.
I too was looking forward to mine (october) but now have to wait until next May. It will save me a lot in petrol for my visits to the lottie which is on our local bus route but about 15 mins. drive away.
I too have a long wait for my bus pass, 29 years ;D ;D ;D
Sadly I was quite excited by the thought of free bus rides in July '11 but then realised a couple of months ago that it comes with the state pension. October '12 for me :(
I will be hoppin' mad if it is one of the 'cuts'.
Why the long wait Digeroo and gwynnethmary ?
Quote from: Paulines7 on May 26, 2010, 16:04:00
Why the long wait Digeroo and gwynnethmary ?
They tie it in to the date you're entitled to your state pension. For those born before April 1950 it's your 60th birthday (for women), but is staggered for those still born in 1950 but after April, if that makes sense!
I had been looking forward to going to oxford they have just done up the Ashmolean museum and parking is very expensive.
The silly thing is that when I get my pension I will have more money anyway.
Quote from: gwynnethmary on May 27, 2010, 11:12:38
Quote from: Paulines7 on May 26, 2010, 16:04:00
Why the long wait Digeroo and gwynnethmary ?
They tie it in to the date you're entitled to your state pension. For those born before April 1950 it's your 60th birthday (for women), but is staggered for those still born in 1950 but after April, if that makes sense!
No, it doesn't make sense. If it's possible to do it for before April, why not after? Surely the mechanics of payment are the same, and they woould know how many to cater for because they have the statistics. Probably they have two systems working, and extra staff needed to administer it. :-\
Quote from: asbean on May 27, 2010, 12:41:42
Quote from: gwynnethmary on May 27, 2010, 11:12:38
Quote from: Paulines7 on May 26, 2010, 16:04:00
Why the long wait Digeroo and gwynnethmary ?
They tie it in to the date you're entitled to your state pension. For those born before April 1950 it's your 60th birthday (for women), but is staggered for those still born in 1950 but after April, if that makes sense!
No, it doesn't make sense. If it's possible to do it for before April, why not after? Surely the mechanics of payment are the same, and they woould know how many to cater for because they have the
statistics. Probably they have two systems working, and extra staff needed to administer it. :-\
I think it happened when the age for state pension went up from 60 to 65 for women. They decided that the cut off year of birth to receive at 60 would be 1950 (hurray!) but that it would be staggered (boo!) Am not really sure why they then decided to tie the bus pass to it as well. My husband was 60 in January and he got his, and he won't receive his state pension until he's 65, being male.