Around Ealing Winter 2014-15 | Page 9

FREEDOM PASS New route to card Nearly one million Londoners hold an older person’s Freedom Pass and threequarters of those have a pass that expires on 31 March 2015. Does yours? If so, you need to be aware of important changes. T he Freedom Pass is provided by local borough councils in London to give older and disabled residents free travel on most public transport in the capital. To qualify for an older person’s Freedom Pass your main home must be in a London borough, and you have to meet the age requirement. The minimum age starts at 60 but can be as high as 66, depending on when you were born. You can check this at www.freedompass.org RENEWALS The way older people can renew their pass is changing. If your older person’s Freedom Pass expires on 31 March 2015, you will be due to receive a letter from London Councils, which is co-ordinating the renewal of these passes on behalf of all 33 boroughs. This letter, which you should get through your letterbox by 12 December, explains how, from now on, you have to renew your Freedom Pass on the internet. You can no longer renew it at the Post Office or over the telephone. WHAT TO DO The letter will provide you with a special renewal number, which is unique to you. You will need this number to renew your pass. You need to then visit the Freedom Pass website www.freedompass.org and follow the simple instructions there on how to renew your pass, entering your number in the appropriate place. It is easy to do. If you do not have access to a computer, ask a family member or friend who does – or visit your local library and ask for help using one of their computers and advice on what to do. To make sure you get your Freedom Pass by 31 March, renew as soon as you receive your letter. DISABLED PASSES Holders of the disabled person’s Freedom Pass whose passes expire on 31 March 2015 do not need to renew online. Their eligibility will be checked and their new passes sent automatically. MORE INFO Visit www.freedompass.org Call 0300 330 1433 (Mon-Sun 8am-8pm) around ealing Winter 2014/15 9