Carers Pay to travel in London

[bowlingbun]

Hampshire issue a Companion Bus Pass to someone who needs a carer to travel with them at all times.

For many years, my son and I travelled on the West Somerset Railway, he paid full price, I was free. This year they had removed the "carer goes free" option. Fortunately, it was quiet, so I chatted to the man in the ticket office. He said the option had been removed as it had been badly abused, especially people saying TWO carers were needed. Real shame. Anyhow as I'm also a pensioner and was pleasant, I still had some discounts!!

[Chris From The Gulag]

Yep ... i was challenged earlier to do some research as to free travel for carers within certain LAs ... identify those that do and those that don't.

Almost impossible task unless I surfed into every LA out there ... so , apologies for not doing so !

Back to the maths.

Free nationwide travel on public transport.

Probably put 4 / 5 times as much monies back into CarerLand than " Fairer For Carers " would add to it.

Perhaps more importantly , those at the lower end of available resources ... namely no car or access to one when needed ... would benefit the greatest ... CA is NOT means tested ... yet.

[Chris From The Gulag]

An analogy ?

Spaceship ... trying to reach the speed of light ... the nearer it approaches , the more energy it needs to expend.

No way can said spaceship reach that limit ... General Relatvity ... Uncle Albert ... Einstein.

Same with Amanda's petition ... speed limit here , 5,000 signatures ... 4,925 as I type ... over a month to add the last 5 !

A final push by those who are reading this posting but have NOT signed ???

https://www.change.org/p/concessionary- ... -your-help

PROVE AMANDA RIGHT AND EINSTEIN WRONG.

That really would be an achievement !!!

[Chris From The Gulag]

Amanda 's petition ... 4,953 ... as I type.

Still , this Issue , together to the 21 Hour Rule one , remains on our radar even if nothing appears to be happening out there.

MOST IMPORTANT POINT ?

When combined , would produce more of a benefit to carers than increasing Carers Allowance ... even if that was doubled
... even trebled !

Carers Strategy ?

NEITHER WILL BE ON THE AGENDA ... UNLESS WE MAKE IT SO !!!

[Chris From The Gulag]

Forthcoming forum session on Benefits and Community Law.

I have taken the opportunity of bouncing the DISCRIMINATION BY ASSOCIATION element off CUK's representative.

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/social-a ... fits-37219

Diarise forward to record what transpires.

[Chris From The Gulag]

As anticipated :

Hi there, thank you for getting in touch. There is protection for disabled people against discrimination under the Equality Act, as well as for their carers in certain situations (called discrimination by association). You can read more about this, including what to do if you as a carer or your caree faces discrimination, here: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advic ... -act-2010I
Danny

No real surprise ?

WE ARE ON OUR OWN FOR THIS AND THE 21 HOUR RULE ISSUE.

Ideals as to the far forward pending Brexit disappearing from the House agenda greatly appreciated !

[Chris From The Gulag]

Amanda's petition ?

Finally broke through the 5,000 barrier ... 5,008 as I type.

Truly a pathetic response.

There again , what petition involving carers has EVER sparked a change in any part of the system ???

[Chris From The Gulag]

Liberal Democrat plan would give 800,000 young carers a free bus pass.

EXCLUSIVE : Ed Davey, himself a former young carer, said it was time to 'right the wrongs' of system which doesn't support people who look after loved ones.

Alongside the plan for free bus travel, the party is proposing a raft of new policies include reforming the Carer's Allowance so young people who are in more than 21 hours a week of education can qualify for the cash.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... e-20057156

Momentum ... ???