18,000 Lambeth residents to benefit from half-price bus travel

Ken Livingstone has sent us this message for readers of 'We Love Larkhall':

Dear resident,

On Monday, I launched a scheme that will mean up to 250,000 of Londoners who receive income support will be able to benefit from half-price bus and tram travel. This will include many of the 18,000 Lambeth residents on income support - lone parents, carers, the long-term sick and people with disabilities.

The discount will mean that those on the lowest incomes will pay only 50p for a single bus journey, half the £1 adult Oyster fare and a quarter of the £2 cash fare. From 30 September this year it will be even cheaper as a 10 per cent across-the-board fares cut is also introduced. This will make a single bus journey just 45p for those on income support.

The scheme has been developed following the agreement I signed earlier this year along with Transport for London and Venezuelan Oil Company PetrÓleos de Venezuela Europa. This provided a 20 per cent reduction in the price of fuel for London's bus fleet, which will be passed on to cut fares for some of the least well off Londoners. At the same time, London will provide Venezuela with advice and technical expertise in fields of city management in which London is a world leader such as transport, town planning, tourism and the protection of the environment.

How Londoners can apply:

Bus and Tram Discount Card application forms are available at all Post Office ® branches in Greater London.

Application forms and leaflets will also be issued at a number of events across London. The form will also be available to download from Transport for London’s website: www.tfl.gov.uk/discountcard

Applicants must live in a London Borough to qualify for the concession.

The application form contains details on the action to be taken by the applicant. The applicant must supply two passport type photos for each application. Completed application forms must be taken in person by the applicant to a Post Office® branch in London where the application and evidence of eligibility will be checked and the Bus and Tram Discount Card issued.

Applicants must produce proof of eligibility in the form of an Income Support letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or Jobcentre Plus, and evidence of identity such as a passport, driving licence or bank card. Other acceptable proofs of identity are listed on the application form. If the letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or Job Centre Plus is more than three months old it must be supported by a bank statement issued within the past three months showing that payments are still being made. If the Income Support is paid by cheque, the cheque can be shown instead, together with the original Income Support letter.

Obtaining the discount:

On presentation of the Bus and Tram Discount Card at an Oyster Ticket Stop, the discount will be loaded onto the applicant’s existing Oyster card, or they will be able to obtain a new Oyster card in the normal way. A £3 deposit will be payable for the issue of a new Oyster card, unless a 7 Day, monthly or longer period Bus Pass season ticket is being bought at the same time.
The Bus and Tram Discount Card serial number will be loaded onto the Oyster card. Holders must register their Oyster card at this point if they have not already done so, supplying a password to secure access to their Oyster data.

Continuing Eligibility:

If the concession holder is still in receipt of Income Support when the Bus and Tram Discount Card expires, they may apply for a new Bus and Tram Discount Card at the Post Office as for a first application, and then have the discount renewed on their accompanying Oyster card.
If the concession holder ceases to be in receipt of Income Support before their Bus and Tram Discount Card expires, they may continue to benefit from the discount until the expiry date on their Bus and Tram Discount Card. It would therefore be quite legitimate in these circumstances for a Bus and Tram Discount Card to be used for journeys to work.

Yours sincerely

Ken Livingstone

Mayor of London