Blind and disabled pensioners face Freedom Pass ‘obstacle course’

Published: 5 February 2010
by PETER GRUNER

RENEWING the Freedom Pass for Islington’s blind and disabled pensioners has become a major “obstacle course” according to campaigners. Hundreds of the most vulnerable are being expected to queue at their local post office, with a range of personal documents, whatever the weather, to renew the free travel pass.

Now London Councils, the authority operating the renewal scheme on behalf of boroughs, could find themselves the target because of the disability discrimination act. Under the act reasonable adjustments must be made for people with disabilities and you cannot provide a worse service than anyone previously given.

Ian Jentle, 64, who is partially sighted and a trustee for Islington’s Disability Action, said the previous scheme, run by Islington council, was less complicated. Speaking in a personal capacity he said he believed that when the renewal issue was decided the needs of thousands of disabled people were simply ignored. He said: “Under the old system blind people might be   contacted personally by Islington social services by telephone or a letter in Braille or an audio CD.

“You would go to the social services office and they would issue you with your new card. You wouldn’t need personal documents because you were already registered.”

Now the scheme is simply announced in newspapers or by word of mouth and disabled pensioners have to ­produce documents proving who they are, a new photograph, and take them along to their nearest post office. “Fortunately I’ve got a wife who helps me  but if I lived on my own I’d be in trouble,” Mr ­Jentle said.

Chairman of Islington Pensioners Forum George Durack said some of his members are getting forms for those who can’t get out through illness. “But these forms still have to be brought back to the post office by the ­person concerned for verification. 

“It’s badly thought out and a lot of ­aggravation.”

The new passes, issued after March 31, will last for five years.

But Mr Durack added: “Why can’t they give pensioners a ­Freedom Pass for life, which would save all the bureaucracy?”

Bernie Miller, 60, lives in neighbouring Camden, who run their own renewal system which allows pensioners to send off for new Freedom Passes by post. Mr Miller has been helping a friend who is 104, and registered blind, in Haringey who is expected to go to her local post office.

He said: “I took her to the post office and we queued for 15 minutes only to discover that, because of an alphabetical name system, we had got the wrong day.”

London Councils, who are responsible for the renewal scheme, say there is an “expectation” that the majority of pensioners will get to the post office in time to renew their cards.

A spokeswoman said: “People with serious disabilities should get help from their local councils. We have ­introduced a surname alphabet system so that people come in to renew when it’s their turn. That way there ­shouldn’t be a big rush. But people can come in and renew their card at any time.”