A new Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme was established by the Scottish Executive on 1 April 2006. Those aged 60 years or over [men and women] and most disabled people are eligible to join the scheme.
This scheme uses a plastic National Entitlement Card [NEC] that is designed to be used in future for such new functions as a library card or a leisure services card. For the time being in Midlothian it will be used solely for the free bus travel.
There is a saltire design on the front of every card issued for use in Scotland, and a local authority design on the rear - Midlothian's rear design is based on an image of the Apprentice Pillar in Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin.
The NEC allows free travel by bus and express coach services throughout Scotland from 0415 to midnight every day. You can also use your NEC to travel to Carlisle [via Dumfries & Galloway] or to Berwick-upon-Tweed [via Scottish Borders] from Scotland, and return. The card is NOT valid for local trips wholly within either Carlisle or Berwick. The card is NOT valid for bus travel in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
When the card arrives, you can check the category by referring to the symbols in the bottom right hand corner on the front [saltire] side.
C = Concessionary travel for the cardholder named
+1 = Concessionary travel for a companion
eye symbol = Blind or partially sighted [additional benefits for the blind in this category include free travel by train, ferry and Glasgow Underground - as in the former Scottish Blind Scheme]
Please contact your local Midlothian library or the Midlothian Travel Team on 0131 561 5445 if the category shown by symbols is not what you expected.
If you have not yet applied for your Scotland-wide card, you will need to fill in one of these two forms:-
"Application for Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older People (Aged 60 and over - without companion)" are blue in colour.
"Application for Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Disabled People or those requiring a Companion Travel Card" are pink in colour.
Both these forms are available from any Midlothian library.
If you are 59 going on 60, then the libraries will accept your application no sooner than one calendar month before your 60th birthday. The bureau [which is located outwith Midlothian] will send out new cards no sooner than two weeks before your 60th birthday. If application forms are sent earlier than this, they are rejected and sent back for verification. It is possible that an application sent in too early will take longer to sort out than one that is submitted in accordance with the above schedule. Please don't submit your form more than one calendar month before your 60th birthday!
When completed, hand your form in at any Midlothian library along with a colour passport-style photograph and proofs of age, address and eligibility for the disabled or companion categories as appropriate. Full details are on the forms along with instructions and notes on how to complete the forms. You will need to present your own form in person, as one of the checks made by the receiving library staff is that the photo is actually of the person applying for the NEC.
It should take no more than 14 days for your card to arrive, maybe a few days longer if it is a brand new card for someone approaching a 60th birthday.
The cards are issued from a bureau outwith Midlothian and sent direct to your home by second class Royal Mail postal service. If your card has not arrived after 21 days, then you can pop in to the library or ring the Midlothian Travel Team in Bonnyrigg on 0131 561 5445 to check on your application's progress. Travel Team or library staff can consult the computer database to check on your card's current status.
Renewals of 60+ cards are sent out automatically by the bureau during the two weeks before the old card is due to expire. You don't need to do anything - except please let us know if you move address so that we can update your details. The main reason cardholders don't receive their cards on time is that they forget to advise us when they change address! Changes of address should be advised to your local Midlothian library - take along some proof of the new address.
Renewals of disabled cards is by renewal form to be handed in to a Midlothian library. This form should be presented with documentation to show that the applicant is still eligible. A reminder letter will be sent to those holding disabled cards approximately one month before the card is due to expire. It is important that you let us know if you change address or the reminder letter will go to your previous home. Changes of address should be advised to your local Midlothian library - take along some proof of the new address.
Changes to eligibility rules. There have been recent stories in the UK media about the raising of the age of eligibility for bus passes from 60 to 65 over the coming years in line with changes to the pensionable age for women. This revision of age eligibility for bus passes affects the scheme in England, but not in Scotland where the eligible age will remain 60 for men and women. This distinction has not always been made clear in the media stories.
