Latest news with #NationalEntitlementCard
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New bus service from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Heathrow announced
The route, which launches on Monday, June 16, will see coaches arriving and departing from Heathrow Central Bus Station. Andreas Schorling, Senior Managing Director of FlixBus UK, said: 'We launched direct routes to Heathrow from the Midlands earlier this year, which have been hugely popular, so we're delighted to be bringing our affordable, sustainable and reliable airport services to Edinburgh in time for summer!' READ MORE: Luggage is included in the ticket price, with passengers also able to enjoy free Wi-Fi and the option to book a neighbour-free seat. FlixBus offers free travel for Young Scot under 22s, over 60s with a bus pass and anyone with a National Entitlement Card on its extensive Scottish network. The company continues to grow rapidly across the UK. Andreas Schorling added: "We see this growth as a major step forward in our plans to be the largest coach network in the UK."
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
New direct bus service from Edinburgh to Heathrow Airport announced
FlixBus, a German-headquartered coach firm, has unveiled its new service between the Scottish capital, Glasgow and Heathrow Airport, which will launch on Monday. Scots will be able to travel directly to and from the UK's busiest airport, with tickets starting at just £14.99. FlixBus offers free travel for Young Scot under 22s, over 60s with a bus pass and anyone with a National Entitlement Card on its Scottish routes. READ MORE: Scottish Tories suffer fresh defection to Nigel Farage's Reform UK The travel firm said the route will provide a 'seamless and convenient' alternative to multiple train changes or 'expensive' airport parking, with coaches arriving and departing from Heathrow Central Bus Station. Andreas Schorling, senior managing director of FlixBus UK, said the firm is delighted to introduce the new direct bus link. He said: 'We launched direct routes to Heathrow from the Midlands earlier this year, which have been hugely popular, so we're delighted to be bringing our affordable, sustainable and reliable airport services to Edinburgh in time for summer!' Luggage will be included in the ticket price, with customers also having access to free Wi-Fi and the option to book a neighbour-free seat. 'We see this growth as a major step forward in our plans to be the largest coach network in the UK,' added Andreas. Tickets can be purchased on FlixBus website or app.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
New call to give older people free bus travel between all UK nations
The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 includes a power to allow for mutual recognition of bus passes across the UK. How to apply for a Blue Badge A new online petition is calling for a change to the nationwide concessionary bus travel scheme to enable every older person to travel between all regions of the UK for free. At present, National Entitlement Cards are issued to people over State Pension age living in England and Wales, but available to those aged over 60 in Scotland. Petition creator Hillary Shaw argues that older people living near the borders of UK regions are 'disadvantaged' and that as bus services run across Scotland, England and Wales, it would be 'easier and fairer' if the concession card covered the whole journey. It emerged last year that existing UK Government legislation could make it possible to allow people with a concessionary bus pass to travel throughout the UK - in the future. At the time, the then Minister for Roads and Local Transport Guy Opperman, said there were no present plans to 'introduce such an arrangement'. The 'Negotiate UK-wide recognition of older person's bus passes' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions Parliament website and states: 'I think senior citizens living close to the English, Scottish and Welsh borders are disadvantaged in how many local bus services they can use. 'Bus services run across borders and I think it would be easier and fairer if the bus pass covered the whole journey, and return, on all of these services. 'I think it would be fairer for all if these passes could simply be used on any bus service in the UK. This could increase pensioner independence and travel opportunities, especially for those living in border areas.' At 10,000 signatures of support, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, most-likely the Department for Transport. At 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament - you can view it online here. National Entitlement Card in Scotland In Scotland, people over 60 are eligible to apply for the National Entitlement Card (NEC), which is administered by the Scottish Government. It is Scotland's National Smartcard, offering access to many public services across the country. The card gives elderly and disabled people free bus travel across Scotland and, through the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, also provides reductions on train, Subway and ferry fares. The NEC is valid for up to three years, but in a change to the renewal process, SPT no longer sends out renewal forms to disabled card holders. This means everyone with a card - sometimes referred to as a 'Saltire card' - should check the expiry date to make sure they will be able to enjoy uninterrupted entitlement to travel concessions. SPT recommends applying for a renewal card at least five weeks before the expiry date. It's also important to be aware that guidance on the SPT website states that the Concessionary Travel Card Unit at Buchanan Bus Station will be closed for in person applications until further notice.
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scots with free bus passes issued expiry warning – don't get caught out
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS with free bus passes are being urged to check the expiry date - make sure you don't get caught out. Disabled and elderly people are entitled to free travel, depending on their age and circumstances. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up National Entitlement Card Renewal forms are no longer being sent to disabled passholders ahead of the expiry date. A renewal can take at least five weeks - users are advised to apply in pleanty plenty of time. And Scots are being advised to allow ten working days for a new card. Pensioners' passes do not have an expiry date and are valid for life. However cards belonging to disabled people will need to be renewed. But after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a crackdown on benefits, several claimants may no longer meet the eligibility requirements. In the Spring Statement, Ms Reeves froze key DWP Universal Credit payments for those too ill to work until 2030, meaning they will get less help every year as prices rise. Meanwhile people claiming incapacity benefits through Universal Credit will see their payments slashed from £97 to £50 a week. The Chancellor also announced a tightening of restrictions around people claiming Personal Independence Payments, a benefit designed to support those with health conditions in England and Wales. Award-winning holiday park in St Ives In Scotland, PIP is being phased out after ministers launched its replacement - the Adult Disability Payment- in 2022. And 14 per cent of our working population receive it compared to nine per cent down south. But it remains unclear as to whether the Scottish Government will be forced to spend hundreds of millions to keep ADP at its current rate after the announcement confirmed cuts to PIP. The cuts to PIP payments in England and Wales have meant that some existing PIP recipients, as well as new applicants, may no longer meet the requirements and could lose access to the benefit. 1 The National Entitlement Card Citizen's Advice Scotland chief executive Derek Mitchell blasted the cuts to benefits. He said: "It's important to understand the context of this. The cost of living crisis hasn't gone away. "There are no circumstances in which ill and disabled people should bear the brunt of the problems in the wider economy. 'It's in all of our interests to ensure the system works and is properly funded. We need more investment in social security, not less. The cuts announced today are in complete contradiction to this and will only cause more hardship and harm.' With that in mind, it's important to know who qualifies for a free bus pass or a National Entitlement Card, as it's known in Scotland, to avoid missing out. You can get free bus and long-distance coach travel in Scotland if you're: 60 or over under 60, disabled and meet certain conditions. You'll be eligible on the grounds of disability if you: get Adult Disability Payment get Attendance Allowance get Child Disability Payment at the higher rate of the mobility component, or at the highest or middle rate of the care component get Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate of the mobility component, or at the higher or middle rate of the care component get Pension Age Disability Payment get Personal Independence Payment get Short-term Assistance while you challenge an Adult or Pension Age Disability Payment decision get Short-term Assistance while you challenge a Child Disability Payment decision about the higher rate of the mobility component, or the middle or highest rate of the care component have a blue badge are profoundly or severely deaf have been told not to drive on medical grounds or you would be refused a driving licence, for example if you would not meet the eyesight standard have a learning disability or mental health condition that has lasted for more than a year. You must need to travel to health or social care appointments as part of treatment activities, care or for rehabilitation. Your ability to travel must also be impaired are terminally ill have a progressive degenerative condition and mobility problems have lost one or more limbs are an injured veteran with mobility problems are under 16 and have a diagnosis of severe sight impairment that's been confirmed by an optician or doctor are 16 or over and registered blind or partially sighted. Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: "It is not yet clear what the UK Government cuts might mean for devolved disability benefits in Scotland and the people who rely on them. "The cuts announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall appear to be driven by a desire to save money and seek to balance the books by targeting the most vulnerable in our society. "Here in Scotland, we are taking a positive and compassionate approach to delivering the Adult Disability Payment and to help reduce any anxieties around the recent announcements. "This approach is ensuring that more disabled people get the support they are entitled to, whilst making sure accessing this support is as straightforward as possible. "That also means that more disabled people are eligible for free bus travel and I would hope Sun readers who are disabled and do not have a Saltire card might now apply for one. "Already, over 2 million older people, disabled people, children and young people in Scotland are benefiting from free bus travel, making over 3 million journeys every week. "Since January 2022, over 200 million bus journeys have been made across Scotland by children and young people under 22 using their free entitlement – connecting multiple generations with free bus use.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
New call to provide every person over 60 with free bus travel to any destination across the UK
The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 includes a power to allow for mutual recognition of bus passes across the UK. How to apply for a Blue Badge A new online petition is calling for a change to the nationwide concessionary bus travel scheme to enable every older person to travel within all regions of the UK for free. At present, National Entitlement Cards are issued to people over State Pension age living in England and Wales, but available to those aged over 60 in Scotland. Petition creator Hillary Shaw argues that older people living near the borders of UK regions are 'disadvantaged' and that as bus services run across Scotland, England and Wales, it would be 'easier and fairer' if the concession card covered the whole journey. It emerged last year that existing UK Government legislation could make it possible to allow people with a concessionary bus pass to travel throughout the UK - in the future. At the time, the then Minister for Roads and Local Transport Guy Opperman, said there were no present plans to 'introduce such an arrangement'. The 'Negotiate UK-wide recognition of older person's bus passes' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions Parliament website and states: 'I think senior citizens living close to the English, Scottish and Welsh borders are disadvantaged in how many local bus services they can use. 'Bus services run across borders and I think it would be easier and fairer if the bus pass covered the whole journey, and return, on all of these services. 'I think it would be fairer for all if these passes could simply be used on any bus service in the UK. This could increase pensioner independence and travel opportunities, especially for those living in border areas.' At 10,000 signatures of support, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, most-likely the Department for Transport. At 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament - you can view it online here. National Entitlement Card in Scotland In Scotland, people over 60 are eligible to apply for the National Entitlement Card (NEC), which is administered by the Scottish Government. It is Scotland's National Smartcard, offering access to many public services across the country. The card gives elderly and disabled people free bus travel across Scotland and, through the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, also provides reductions on train, Subway and ferry fares. The NEC is valid for up to three years, but in a change to the renewal process, SPT no longer sends out renewal forms to disabled card holders. This means everyone with a card - sometimes referred to as a 'Saltire card' - should check the expiry date to make sure they will be able to enjoy uninterrupted entitlement to travel concessions. SPT recommends applying for a renewal card at least five weeks before the expiry date. It's also important to be aware that guidance on the SPT website states that the Concessionary Travel Card Unit at Buchanan Bus Station will be closed for in person applications until further notice.
