Is everyone with Aspergers eligible for a free bus pass?

Post Reply New Topic

I don't think morally I should be eligible for a free travel pass because I'm perfectly intelligent, rich and have legs that I can walk with, however another perfectly capable person with Aspergers who I know got a free travel pass recently and I'm thinking if she has one, why can't I? I have a formal diagnosis, I'm not on benefits, I work. What's the stance on this?

I wish.

I hear in my area there are places that hand out free passes to people who are low income. But however honored citizens bus passes are not free. They cost close to 30 bucks. I buy mine.
Some people with Asperger's (maybe many) are handicapped so it impacts their life and their employment due to social impairments and communication or executive function impairments, anxiety, so they are on disability and therefore would qualify for services. You say you are rich so therefore you wouldn't need a free pass because you can afford it.

My friend who's got one is rich too though.

It depends on the jurisdiction, and how severely your syndrome impacts your everyday life.
Personally, I wouldn't need one, because I can't stand busses or public transport, due to the amount of sensory stimuli (people, noises, view from the windows). Each ride is a nightmare. But then again, I don't have Asperger's, but rather another ASD.

I think it really depends less on your diagnosis, but more on your individual needs. For instance, I'm able to drive and am supported financially by my parents, so it wouldn't make sense for me to get a free bus pass or be eligible for services like para transit. However I know people who have Aspergers who can't drive because of it and take para transit. So it's what you need.

i ride bus and tram for free because i am on disability.
i also get financial reduction on payment for gas and electricity and water.

The answer is that it depends where you live and depends what your individual circumstances are. Different councils have different rules but you can possibly get a bus pass if you are on disability benefits, have severe speech problems, or have a learning disability. Obviously there are other stipulations such as being physically disabled, but we're talking about Aspergers here.

It's unlikely that Aspergers alone is going to get you a free bus pass, but it's possible that you could have other issues that will allow you to qualify, or if you have somehow managed to get disability benefit then that might help you too.

If you enter your postcode on this site

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass

It will take you to the relevant section of your local council's site and that will list the requirements for a free pass.

If your transit authority provides free bus passes for people who are eligible under the ADA, and you can provide a diagnosis, it's likely you too can get a free bus pass.

But if you don't actually need it, if you are doing it just to get something for "free" or just be cause someone else was able to "game the system" remember that there are people who really do need said passes or for whom those passes mean a base level of independence they wouldn't otherwise have.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you don't actually *need* it, you are abusing the system and it's morally wrong. There are likely people here, on these forums, for whom such a pass would make a difference in their lives but for whatever reason they can't get one. There are also people in your locality who may be low functioning who don't know how to get one or are not functionally able to follow the process. Why not use your Aspie superpowers to help them instead?

If in doubt, just ask the appropriate person what you want to know.

I personally think there are two sets of morals, one private and one corporate.

The money was hypothecated into existence, and you never took it from anyone, by force or guile. You're not pretending to be helpless, ignorant, or poor, any more than a senior citizen or veteran has to be indisposed, in order to get their gratuity.

And, you're calling it a free gift. There's no attitude of entitlement or dependence, so that you could take it or leave it, without a worry.

There are no free bus passes by me just discounts and accomidations for seniors, veterans, and the physically disabled.

I don't think my friend should have been entitled to a travel pass, she's high functioning, far more intelligent than me, she's got mental health issues so no doubt she played on that in order to wingle herself a pass. I personally think there needs to be a degree of capability in order to get a pass, I don't think she should have been allowed one and that only people who are on the extreme case of impairment should be allowed one but she was boasting that anyone with a diagnosis can get one. If that is true then why would I want to pay for my own travel when can have it for free? & why do I struggle home from town with lots of heavy shopping when I could get the bus for free? That's why I want to follow this up. If I'm entitled then I'd be a fool not to take advantage. If technically I am eligible then the travel/council people need to look at their rules but I don't make the rules so why should I care? Besides, apart from the practicalities like getting shopping to my door, having a travel pass would enrich my life hugely. At the moment due to me being extremely tight-fisted I wouldn't dream of travelling around by bus, I only get a bus when it's essential but if I had a pass I could come and go freely and explore new areas that I never would have without one. I enjoy walking so I could go on the bus to different areas and then go for a walk. All my life all my walks start from my home and so I only cover a radius of about 10 miles in all directions. Being able to go further afield would be great. But on a practical side of things getting a bus from town with my shopping would be great, I have a back condition so I can be in agony sometimes, my back condition effects me on/off so I really don't think I'd be eligible for a pass due to being physically disabled though.

@ Chichikov - After following your link it says the following for applying for a Disabled Person's Travel Permit at my council.

Who is it for?
People who have a disability. The person with the disability may be allowed to have another person travelling with them who would get the same concession.
You will be able to get a disabled person's travel permit if you:
• are blind or partially sighted,
• are profoundly or severely deaf,
• are without speech,
• have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk,
• do not have arms or have long-term loss of use of both arms,
• have a substantial learning disability,
• have been refused a driving licence or would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds, other than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol. Please note you cannot apply under this criteria unless you are of legal driving age.

Is Aspergers a substantial learning difficulty? How on earth did my friend get a free pass?

Why not ask your friend how she got it and how she qualified?

I would take a free bus pas if I was offered one. Due to my disability I've had a lot of trouble learning to drive, and while I'm not giving up hope, I'm way older than most people who have their licenses. As a result, I have to take the bus on a regular basis.

I don't see how income should matter, either. If your disability causes you to have to pay an extra cost for something, you deserve assistance with that thing. Poverty assistance and disability assistance are separate things.

I mean, in my country, a person regardless of income isn't expected to pay for healthcare. (In fact, only US and a short list of 3rd world countries lack universal healthcare. Greatest country in the world? Yeah, right.) We don't say 'oh, you're too rich, you should have to pay for your chemotherapy.' Because it's just not fair to expect someone to pay for an extra cost due to something they have no control over.