Council Tax and Benefits

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Page last updated at 14:52 GMT, Thursday, August 5 2010

Travel Concessions 

Elderly and disabled residents are entitled to a National Bus Pass which allows free travel on buses throughout England.  Eastleigh Borough Council also offers a Senior Citizen's Railcard or a Disabled Person's Railcard as an alternative to the National Bus Pass as part of our Concessionary Fares Scheme.

Housebound residents who are under 75 years of age and unable to take advantage of the Travel Concession Scheme may qualify for TV Licence Concessions.

You are entitled to Travel Concessions if:

You permanently live in the Borough and one of the following conditions apply:

  • You are a woman who has reached state pension age, or
  • You are a man who has reached the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day as you, or
  • You are aged 5 or over, and disabled under one of the following categories:

 

(a) blind or partially sighted

(b) profoundly or severely deaf

(c) without speech

(d) has a disability which has a substantial and long term effect on your ability to walk

(e) without arms or the long term use of both arms

(f) severe learning disability, or

  • Would have or has been refused a driving licence
     

The concession available to you depends on your age and whether you are disabled:

Age Group Concession Available
Qualifying age National Bus Pass or Senior Citizen's Railcard or Disabled Person's Railcard
Disabled Applicants aged 5 and over National Bus Pass or Disabled Person's Railcard
Housebound Residents under 75 years of age TV Licence Concession

National Free Bus Pass 

A National Free Bus Pass is available free of charge to eligible residents entitling them to free off peak travel on local buses throughout England.  Eastleigh Borough Council provides an enhancement to this scheme allowing eligible residents to travel free of charge at any time of the day provided the journey is continuous and starts within the Borough.  You cannot get free travel before 9.30am or after 11pm if you board a bus in another area.

In addition, registered users of One Community services may use their free pass on the following services:

  • Dial a Ride
  • Dial a Ride Shopping Trips
  • Parish Links
  • Hedge End Park Minibus Services
     

Please note you will be required to provide one recent colour passport size photograph for the pass.  The photo should be taken against a plain background and show with a neutral expression, without a hat or sunglasses.  Alternatively, you may visit the Civic Offices or the Town Centre Office, Wells Place, Eastleigh to have a photograph taken free of charge.

You will receive your bus pass a few days after submitting your application.  You can submit your application up to one week before you reach qualifying age in order to allow time for the production of the card.

If your pass is lost or stolen, the Council will replace it once you have filled out a duplicate application form.  A £5 charge will apply for a replacement pass.

If you are disabled under one of the categories detailed above and you wish to apply for a bus pass the following proof will be required:

For (a) (b) (c) (e) and (f): Hampshire Social Services Yellow Disabled Registration Card.

For (d): your award letter confirming you are in receipt of higher rate mobility of Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement.

If you have been refused a driving licence a letter from the DVLA is required as proof.  In some circumstances a form signed by your doctor will be accepted.

Companion Bus Pass

If you are so severely disabled that you require assistance to travel on buses you may be entitled to a companion bus pass.  This allows your companion to travel with you free of charge provided your journey starts within the Borough and is continuous.  Please note that your companion will not be allowed to travel free of charge if you are boarding a bus outside Eastleigh's area.  To qualify for a companion pass you must also be in receipt of:

  • Attendance Allowance at the higher rate or
  • Disability Living Allowance including higher rate mobility or
  • War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement AND
     

You must be registered disabled with Hampshire Social Services under one of the qualifying categories. 

Please provide your original entitlement letter for one of the above benefits and your yellow disabled registration card as evidence.

Senior Citizen's Railcard 

A Rail Warrant entitling the holder to purchase a Senior Citizen's Railcard is available to applicants of qualifying age.

The Railcard entitles you to a third off standard and first class rail fares throughout Great Britain.  Discounts on some connecting bus and ship links are also available.

The train operator will also require you to complete an additional application form and provide proof of your age before a Senior Citizen's Railcard is issued to you.

Disabled Person's Railcard 

The Disabled Person's Railcard allows you and one adult travelling with you to get a third off most rail fares throughout Great Britain.

The Council will process your application once it has been approved and the card will be issued in the post via the issuing bureau.

To qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard you must be:

1. Disabled under categories (a) or (b) and hold a yellow disabled registration card, or
2. Disabled under category (d) and be in receipt of higher rate mobility of Disability Living Allowance or
3. Disabled under categories (c), (e) or (f) or of qualifying age AND in receipt of one of the following benefits:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  • War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability, or
     

4. Unable to drive because of epilepsy

Please provide your yellow disabled registration card as proof of entitlement if you are applying under any of the disabled categories.  A copy of your award letter for any of the above benefits will also be required.  If you are applying because you are of qualifying age you must provide proof of your age.  Acceptable proof of your age is detailed on the Council's application form.

If you are unable to drive because of epilepsy, a copy of your letter from the DVLA telling you that you are unable to drive will be required.  If you do not have a letter, a form which will need to be signed by your Doctor can be provided. 


 This form should be returned to the Council with a copy of your prescription for epilepsy medication.  Please contact the Concessionary Fares Team for further information.

Our office opening hours are:

  • Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5.00pm
  • Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm