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Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Freedom Pass?
The Freedom Pass enables the pass holder to
travel for free on London's public transport within the Freedom
Pass boundary. Most Freedom Pass holders can also travel for free
on local bus services in England between 9.30am and 11pm.
It is paid for by all 33 London Boroughs.
Who can apply for a Freedom Pass?
You can apply for a Freedom Pass if your sole or principal
residence is in one of the 33 London Boroughs. You are entitled to
the Older Persons Freedom Pass if you meet the age criteria and you
are entitled to the Disabled Persons Freedom Pass if you meet
specific disability criteria.
Can I apply for a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass for a
child?
We will only offer a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass to a child
who doesn't already qualify for free travel. Information about the
modes of transport and the ages at which a child can travel for
free can be found on the Transport
for London website.
Who is entitled to a mandatory or
discretionary Freedom Pass?
All older people are entitled to a mandatory Freedom Pass
because they meet the age criteria.
Disabled people who meet at least of of the seven qualifying
criteria in the Transport Act 2000 are entitled to a mandatory
Freedom Pass.
Disabled people who meet the discretionary criteria are entitled
to a discretionary Freedom Pass. In Redbridge, this is known as the
Local Enhancement scheme.
What does the Freedom Pass look like?
The Older Persons Freedom Pass has the national red rose logo
(top left) and red ribbon with a blue edge strip as shown below
The mandatory Disabled Persons Freedom Pass has
the national red rose logo (top left) and red ribbon, with an
orange edge strip as shown below
The discretionary Disabled Persons Freedom Pass
has no national red rose logo. It has a green ribbon and green
shading, as shown below
Where can the Freedom Pass be used?
All Freedom Passes offer the same travel benefits for any
journeys made within the Freedom
Pass Boundary.
Only the Older Persons Freedom Pass and the
mandatory Disabled Persons Freedom Pass (with the
national red rose logo) can be used for travel
outside the Freedom Pass boundary on local
bus services anywhere in England
Can I get a Freedom Pass if I am a carer travelling with a
Freedom Pass holder?
No, the Freedom Pass can only be given to those who are eligible
for the Freedom Pass on their own merit.
I work or study in London but do not live in a London Borough,
can I apply for a Freedom Pass?
No, your sole or principal residence must be in a
London Borough.
I'm over 60 so can I get an Older Persons Freedom Pass?
As of 6 March 2012 you are currently eligible for an Older
Persons Freedom Pass if you were born
before 5 May 1951
If you were born on or after 6 May 1951 you need
to check when
you will become eligible.
Can you get a Freedom Pass if you work?
Yes, the Freedom Pass is not based on your employment or income
situation.
I meet the age criteria for the Older Pass but I am also
disabled. Which Pass should I apply for?
You should apply for the Older Persons Freedom Pass. We do not
offer the Disabled Pass to people who are entitled to an
Older Persons Pass. This is because both passes offer exactly
the same benefit in terms of the timing of travel and the travel
boundary. It's easier and quicker to apply for the Older Persons
Pass and it's cheaper for the Council to administer.
Is there a difference between the Older and Disabled Freedom
Pass?
No, they provide the same benefits.
How do I apply for the Older Persons Freedom Pass?
The Older Persons Freedom Pass is administered on our behalf by
the Post Office. You can get an application form from your local
Post Office or visit the
Freedom Pass website.
Can I automatically get a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass if I am
registered as a Disabled person?
No. To get a Disabled Pass you have to meet at least one of
seven specific qualifying categories of disability, as set out in
the Transport Act 2000.
How do I apply for the Disabled Persons Freedom Pass?
You have to complete a Disabled Persons application form and
send it to the Freedom Pass team for assessment. If you're entitled
to a pass you will be sent a Letter of Authority to take to the
Post Office.
Which Post Office can I go to?
There are 20 Post Offices in Redbridge or you can go to any
other Post Office in London.
What documents do I need to take to the Post Office?
Older applicants need to take their completed
application form, passport style photo and proof of identity and
address to the Post Office. Disabled applicants need to take their
Letter of Authority (issued by the Freedom Pass Team) with a
passport style photo, proof of identity and address, as detailed on
the Letter of Authority.
Why does the photo have to meet certain standards?
It has to meet certain standards so it can be digitally
imprinted onto the Pass. It also has to conform to Government
travel scheme standards, like the National Pass. This makes it
easier for the card to be inspected by transport staff and provides
better protection against fraud and misuse.
Where can I buy my passport style photo?
Most of the larger Post Offices and main supermarkets across the
Borough have a photo booth. There is also a photo booth in Council
premises at The Community Care Advice Centre, Aldborough Road
North, Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex, IG2 7SR. It normally costs
about £5 for 5 photos but you only need to supply one photo for the
Freedom Pass application.
Do I have to apply in person at the Post Office?
Yes, you must apply in person. This is because you have to prove
your identity against the photo being submitted.
What happens once I've handed my application form to the Post
Office?
The information is sent electronically to an issuing Bureau. The
Freedom Pass will be sent to you within 10 working days. The Post
Office will give you a receipt with details about how you can track
the delivery of your pass.
What happens if my new Pass hasn't arrived within 10 working
days?
You need to call the London Councils helpline telephone number
written on the receipt or log onto the website and follow the
instructions. Helpline staff will ask you to confirm your identity
and address and discuss your situation with you. If there is a
problem with the delivery they will cancel the Pass so that it
cannot be used by anyone else. A new Pass will be ordered and sent
out to you.
I've been refused a Disabled Pass. What can I do?
- We look at every Freedom Pass application on
an individual basis, taking into account the legal guidelines and
any medical evidence provided.
- If we refuse your application, we will write to you,
giving you the reasons why we have made this decision. If you think
our decision is wrong, you can ask us to reconsider or review
it. You must do so in writing within 1 month, telling us why
you feel you are entitled to a Pass. You can supply more
information, such as new medical evidence, if you think this will
be helpful.
- We will review our decision, taking into account any
additional information you have provided. If we feel you are
entitled to a Pass we will let you know we have revised our
decision. If we feel our original decision is correct, we will
write to you again, explaining why.
- If we refuse your application after review,
your application can still be considered on Appeal. We will forward
all of your paperwork to an Independent Appeal Officer, and you
will have another opportunity to provide more evidence, if you wish
to do so, for the Appeal Officer to consider.
- The Appeal Officer aims to make the decision
within 3 weeks. The decision and a full report is sent to the
Freedom Pass team. We will then write to you again to let you know
the outcome of your Appeal, and we will also enclose a copy of the
report.
- There is no further right of appeal after
this decision has been made. However, a new Freedom Pass
application can be made (usually after six months have passed) and
only if there is sufficient proof that your medical condition has
worsened since the last decision was made.
- If you feel that the Council has not applied
its policy in a correct manner, you can contact the Local Government
Ombudsman.
What is London Councils?
London Councils acts on the collective behalf of
London's 33 local authorities to get the best possible deal for us.
They lobby the government and others on our behalf and develop
policies. They also run a range of services including the Freedom
Pass concessionary fares scheme.
How long does the Older Persons Freedom Pass last?
Your Freedom Pass will shown an expiry date of 2015 or, for
those issued since July 2011, it will show as 2016. However, during
this time we will review the entitlement to a Pass. If someone is
not entitled, for example they have moved out of London, we can
withdraw their Pass.
How long does the Disabled Persons Freedom Pass last?
Your Freedom Pass will shown an expiry date of 2015 or, for
those issued in the later months of 2011, it will show as 2016.
However, during this time we will review eligibility for people
whose condition may change before this date. We will also review
eligibility using information by an address checking agency, London
Councils, and the National Fraud initiative. If someone is not
entitled, for example their condition has changed or they have
moved out of London, we can withdraw their pass.
I have an Older Pass, issued by Redbridge, and I am moving to a
new address. Who should I contact?
You should contact London Councils. This will be the case
whether you are moving to another address in Redbridge or to
another London Borough or out of London.
If you are moving to another address in
Redbridge you need to send current proof of your new
address to London Councils so they can update your records. You
will keep your existing Pass and you will not have to reapply or go
back into the Post Office.
If you are moving to another London Borough you
should phone London Councils who will explain what you need to
do.
If you are moving out of London you must return
your Freedom Pass to London Councils. It is an offence to continue
to use your Freedom Pass once your sole or principal residence is
no longer in a London Borough.
We carry out regular reviews of addresses to check residency
eligibility. If you have changed addresses and haven't told us,
your Pass may be cancelled.
I have a Disabled Pass, issued by Redbridge and I am moving to
a new address. Who should I contact?
You should contact the Redbridge Freedom Pass Team. This will be
the case whether you are moving to another address in Redbridge, or
to another London Borough or out of London.
If you are moving to another address in
Redbridge you need to send us current proof of
your new address so that we can update our records. You will
keep your existing pass and you will not have to reapply or go
back into the Post Office.
If you are moving to another London Borough,
you should phone us and we will explain what you need to do.
If you are moving out of London you must return
your Freedom Pass to us. It is an offence to continue to use your
Freedom Pass once your sole or principal residence is no longer in
a London Borough.
We carry out regular reviews of addresses to check residency
eligibility. If you have changed addresses and haven't told us,
your Pass may be cancelled.
I am moving from another London Borough into Redbridge. Can I
just keep my existing Freedom Pass?
No. You have to apply for your new Pass to Redbridge. This is
because the Pass is paid for by the issuing Borough and it is
unfair for the costs of your travel to still be charged to them if
you no longer live there.
If you have an Older Persons Freedom Pass you will need to
contact London Councils. They will advise you what you should
do.
If you have a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass you will need to
contact the Redbridge Freedom Pass Team and we will tell you what
to do. All disabled applicants will need to complete a Redbridge
application form.
My Freedom Pass is faulty, lost or stolen. How can I get it
replaced?
Both Older and Disabled Pass holders should phone London
Councils on 08452 75 70 54. Outside of office hours, you may have
to leave your details on an answer phone.
Can I let someone else use my pass?
Absolutely not. The Freedom Pass remains the property of London
Councils and is not transferable.
Pass holders must not give their Freedom Pass
to anyone else to use. It is an offence to allow a Pass to be used
by anyone else and can result in prosecution. The misuse of the
Freedom Pass is the same as fare evasion.
Several Redbridge Freedom Pass holders have been fined in court
and we have subsequently withdrawn their right to the Freedom
Pass.
Redbridge Council can refuse to reissue a replacement to anyone
whose pass is confiscated by Transport officials due to
misuse.
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