New National Bus Concession or Mobility Vouchers for Older and Disabled People

These notes should be read carefully before an application is made.

Please note that from 17^th July 2008, Concessionary Travel services will move from Premier House to Swindon Direct, Wat Tyler House, Princes St. For further information please contact Swindon 445500. For a map showing the location of the Council buildings, please see our Council Building Guide.

Who Qualifies for Concessionary Travel

If you are a permanent resident in the Borough of Swindon and fall into one of the following groups, you may be entitled to concessionary travel:

• Women and men over 60 years of age
• Any person who:
• Is severely sight impaired (blind) or partially sighted
• Is profoundly or severely deaf
• Is without speech
• Has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to walk. The applicant either a) cannot walk or b) virtually unable to walk or c) the exertion required to walk would ‘constitute a danger to their life or would be likely to lead to a serious deterioration in their health’
• Does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
• Has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind, which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning. These disabilities must have started before adulthood and have a lasting effect on development.
• Would, if he/she applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his/her application refused pursuant to Section 92 of the act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol

Is so severely disabled as to require the assistance of a companion in order to travel on public transport, Swindon Dial-A-Ride or other community transport. You can get more information from the Dial A Ride website (www.dialarideswindon.org.uk).

What You Need to Do

To join the concessionary travel scheme you can either:

• Apply in person at Swindon Direct, One Stop Shop, Wat Tyler House, Princes Street, Swindon, SN1 2JG with your proof of entitlement
• Download, print and complete the application form (please see below)
• Complete the online form (please see below)

Application Form

You can apply using the online application form:

Concessionary Travel Online Application Form

Please note you will need to attach a photograph to your application.

Alternatively, the application form is available as a downloadable PDF file:

Concessionary Travel Application Form (20Kb) When completed you can post this to: Concessionary Travel, Civic Offices, Euclid St, Swindon SN1 2JH.

If you apply online or send in your application form, when your pass is ready you will need to collect it in person with your proof of entitlement.

You can download the Concessionary Travel Application Form and apply in person with your proof of entitlement at Swindon Direct, One Stop Shop, Princes Street, Swindon, SN1 2JG

How to Prove your Entitlement

If you qualify for travel as an older person, you will need to show evidence of both your age and address as follows:

For age: a driving licence, passport, medical card, birth certificate (and marriage certificate if applicable), or other official documentary evidence.

For address: a driving licence, Council Tax bill, recent utilities bill such as gas, electricity or telephone or other official documentary evidence. Please note utility bills must be addressed to the applicant.

To qualify under the disabled categories you must be of fare paying age and you will need to provide additional information to support your application. If you have a Vision Services Card (Severe Sight Impaired or Partially Sighted), Disabled Parking Badge, Higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement, these qualify you for the New National Bus Pass or Mobility Vouchers. If you do not have any of the above please contact Swindon Direct 01793 445500 for more details.

Please note the council is not liable to reimburse any costs incurred from applicants in proving entitlement.

How to Apply

You need to apply in person at:

Swindon Direct
One Stop Shop
Wat Tyler House
Princes Street
Swindon
SN1 2JG

You will need to bring with you proof of entitlement and your application form (if you have downloaded a copy). Your photograph will be taken at the One Stop Shop to enable a pass to be ordered. This photograph will be kept to enable future ID cards to be printed.

When is Swindon Direct One Stop Shop open?

The One Stop Shop is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 6pm, Thursday from 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Telephone enquiries can be made to Swindon Direct on 01793 445500 Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

How the Scheme Works

There are two options of getting help with the cost of transport. You can only choose one option. You cannot change your chosen option unless your circumstances change significantly.

What are my Options?

• Option 1 – New National Bus Concession
• Option 2 – Travel Voucher Scheme (Mobility Impaired)

Blind Person's Bus Pass

For people who are registered Severely Sight Impaired (Blind) a Blind Persons' Bus Pass is also available. The Blind Persons application form is available as a downloadable pdf file:

Blind Person's Concessionary Travel Application Form (20Kb)

Further Information

An information sheet covering arrangements for the scheme is available as a downloadable PDF file:

Concessionary Travel Information Sheet (28Kb)

Limits of Use

Option 1 cannot be accepted before 9.30am Mondays to Fridays. You may however use your Bus Pass at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

It can also be used on Service 23, 9.20am from Stratton Park and on the Flexibus.

Flexibus is a daily bus service (Mondays to Fridays) following a semi-fixed route, serving Highworth, the North Swindon Centre (Orbital Retail Park) and Swindon Town Centre from the following places – Sevenhampton, Stanton Fitzwarren, Hampton, Hannington and Castle Eaton. It can only be used by people who do not have access to other transport. The service must be pre-booked in advance on 01793 617828. Operated by Swindon Dial a Ride on behalf of Swindon Borough Council.

Option 2 can be used to travel at any time.

Companion Allowance

If you are unable to travel without assistance, you may be able to apply for a companion allowance. For more details please telephone Swindon Direct on 01793 445500.

Information and Advice

You can also get information at the council offices in Haydon Wick, Highworth, Stratton St Margaret and Wroughton. We have also informed organisations such as Age Concern and the Swindon Coalition of Disabled People, as well as numerous clubs, day centres, and residential and nursing homes, so you may be able to talk about concessionary travel there as well.

Other Information

• From 1 April 2003, men aged 60 years and over are eligible to apply for concessionary travel
• From 1 April 2008, the new National Bus Concession entitles pass holders to travel free off-peak on local buses anywhere in England
• Data Protection Act: Swindon Borough Council complies with current data protection legislation (for further information please contact:
  
  The Data Protection Controller
  Swindon Borough Council
  Civic Offices
  Euclid Street
  Swindon
  SN1 2JH
• Data matching: this authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers and to this end may use the information you have provided when applying for travel concessions for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies administering public funds solely for these purposes.