Merton Council is calling on the borough’s freedom pass holders to make sure they renew their pass before the 19 February deadline.
By 31 March 2016, 3,500 Older Persons Freedom Passes and 500 Disabled Persons passes in Merton will expire and must be renewed in order for pass holders to continue to benefit from free public transport. Pass holders should have already received a letter from either London Councils or Merton Council advising them how to renew their pass.
Renewing an Older Persons’ Freedom Pass online can be done in four steps: Go to www.freedompass.org/renewal , enter your unique renewal number shown on the letter, enter your date of birth and the last four digits of the long number on the front of your existing Freedom Pass, check and confirm your details are correct. That’s it! Anyone who is unable to go online can complete the form on the back of their letter which they can return by post to Freedom Pass Renewals, PO Box 580, Hull, HU9 9LX. For any queries, there is a dedicated Freedom Pass helpline: 0300 330 1433, open Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm. Residents can also email info@freedompass.org.
Disabled pass holders must return a shortened application form to Merton Council. Anyone having difficulty completing the form can call the Concessionary Travel helpline: 020 8274 4990, open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm or email concessionarytravel@merton.gov.uk
After 19 February, the card supplier will take a snapshot of all the active records and new passes will be produced and posted over the following four weeks.
Merton Council’s cabinet member for adult social care and health, Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, said: “According to our records, only 20% of eligible pass holders have renewed their Freedom Passes which isn’t very high. We know just how important the Freedom Pass is to our residents, which is why we fund it so disabled and elderly people can get out and about without worrying about cost. With the borough’s great transport links, the Freedom Pass gives them the chance to use the train, Tube, tram and bus free of charge across London and local bus journeys nationally. If your pass is expiring at the end of March, providing you still reside in Merton, you will be entitled to a new one if you continue to meet the qualifying criteria.”
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