DisabledPersonsFreedomPass Fact Sheet

Eligible Disability Criteria
  • If you are living in London and you have an eligible disability, you can apply to your local council for a disabled freedom pass. The seven main categories of disability in the Transport Act 2000 which make you eligible for a freedom pass are listed below.
  • If you have any of the following disabilities you can apply for a freedom pass:
  • are blind or partially sighted are profoundly or severely deaf
  • are without speech
  • have suffered an injury, which has left you with a substantial and long term adverse effect on your ability to walk
  • do not have arms or have a long term loss of the use of both arms
  • have a learning disability, that is defined as, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning people who, if they applied for a grant for a license to drive a motor vehicle under part iii of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
  • Mental Health - Hammersmith & Fulham council also offer concessionary travel to residents who are in contact with specialist mental health services and have an enhanced care plan under the care programme approach. Applications under this criteria should be completed by the mental health professional seeing the applicant
Documents
What you need to take with you to the post office
  • a completed application form
  • one recent passport sized photograph
  • proof of your name, age and address
Name and Age Proof Documents
Any one of the following:
  • current freedom pass
  • letter of pension entitlement
  • current passport
  • medical card
  • birth certificate (unless your name has changed)
  • pink driving license (paper or photo card)
Proof of Address Documents
Any one of the following:
  • current council tax bill or letter
  • current council / housing association rent book / statement / letter
  • current television licence
  • any one of the following dated in the last 3 months:
  • residential utility billbut not a mobile phone bill
  • residential bank /building society statement
  • HM Revenues and Customs letter
  • Department for Work and Pensions letter
  • occupational pension letter
  • residential credit card statement
Proof of Disability Category
A Blind or Partially Sighted
You will need to provide either a copy of your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI),previously known as a ‘BD8’, or evidence of the Local Authority with which you areregistered.
B Profoundly or Severely Deaf
You will need to provide either a audiological report or aural specialist report toprove you have a severe hearing loss (i.e. if it reaches 70-95 decibels),
or a profound loss(i.e. if it reaches 95+ decibels).
C Without Speech
You will need to provide a medical report to prove that you are unable to communicateorally in any language.
D Permanent Physical Disability
If you have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on your ability to walk.
Please provide proof that you are in receipt of either:
  • DLA – High Rate Mobility Component or War Pensioner’s Mobility Component.
  • If you are not in receipt of these benefits you will be sent for a Mobility Assessment todetermine the extent of your condition.
E Disability Affecting Both Arms
You must provide independent medical evidence to prove you either have a loss of botharms, have permanently lost the use of both arms or have a deformity affecting botharms.
F Learning Disability
You must be registered with the council’s Learning Disability Service.
G Barred from holding a driving licence
You must provide a letter from the DVLA or your GP that states that you wouldbe ‘barred from holding a driving licence’ on the grounds of your medical fitness.
Thiscould be due to a physical condition, i.e. epilepsy, or mental health issues where yourmedication prevents you from holding a licence. People who are barred from driving formisusing drugs or alcohol do not qualify under this category.
H Other categories – mental health (do not complete this form)
If you are applying because of mental health issues and do not qualify under category G(barred from holding a driving licence), you will need to contact your Community MentalHealth Team. They will complete a specialist mental health FreedomPass applicationform on your behalf and must provide a copy of your care plan.
Where do I Apply?
You will need to apply through the council Accessible Transport Team
Address:H&F Direct Centre, 1st floor,
HammersmithTown Hall Extension,
King Street,
Hammersmith
W6 9JU
Telephone: 0208 753 6681
Opening Hours:
  • 9am to 12.30pm by appointment only
  • 1pm to 5pm, drop in (no appointment necessary) Monday to Friday apart from Thursday when closes at 4pm
  • Monday to Friday. (the first available dates will be presented to you - half hour slot to see a specialist officer
  • Youcan cancel and rebook an appointment onlineor by calling the above number.
Please Note:If attending in person, lift access to the h&f Direct Centre is available opposite HammersmithTown Hall's main reception. if you are unable to use the lift or the escalator please call 0208 753 6681 and we will arrange to see you in the main Town Hall reception. Please note it is often busy around lunchtime so if possible do try to avoid this time of the day.
Christmas and New Year opening times
Telephone: 0208 753 6681
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, apart from Thursday 9am to 4pm
Fax: 0208 753 4590
Email: about blue badges or disabled persons freedom passes:

Where and when can you use your pass
Local buses in Greater London
  • Your FreedomPass is valid on all Transport for London (TfL) buses (in the Greater London area) at any time of day or night.
  • Your pass is also valid on local bus services run by other bus companies which are outside the TfL bus network. Usually your pass will be valid Monday-Friday 09:30 - 23:00 and anytime at weekends and on public holidays.
Local buses elsewhere in England
  • Your FreedomPass is valid on many other bus services in England and has the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) 'Rose' printed on it to show this.
  • This means you can use your pass on most local services around the country.
  • Usually your pass will be valid Monday-Friday 09:30 - 23:00 and anytime at weekends and on public holidays.
  • The FreedomPass is not valid on most intercity coach services and is not valid in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, or on tram or National Rail services outside London.
  • We strongly advise you to contact the bus operating company before you travel to check the validity of your pass if you are at all uncertain.
Useful contacts for the major bus and coach operators
  • National Express 0871 200 22 33
  • Green Line 200 22 33
  • Arriva 200 22 33
  • Stagecoach 200 22 33
  • Megabus 0900 1600 900
  • First 200 22 33
  • Veolia 0871 200 22 33
Underground, Overground and DLR
  • The FreedomPass is accepted all day, every day on the whole of the London Underground (the 'tube'), Overground (which replaced the old Silverlink service) and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network.
National Rail
  • Your FreedomPass allows you to travel in Standard Class on most local rail services in London, provided you travel at the following times:
  • Monday to Friday from 9.30am and until 4.30am the following morning
  • Weekends and public holidays at any time
Trams
  • The FreedomPass is accepted all day, every day on London's trams.
River and Cable Car Travel
FreedomPass holders are entitled to a 50% discount on normal river fares on the following services at the following times:
  • after 9.00am Mondays to Fridays
  • at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
  • at all other times, pass holders must pay a standard fare.
Thames Clippers
  • Embankment and London Eye to the O2 and Woolwich Arsenal
  • Bankside to Millbank
  • Hilton Docklands to CanaryWharf shuttle
Thames Executive Charters
  • Putney and Wandsworth to Embankment and Blackfriars
CrownRiver Cruises
  • Westminster to St Katherine's Hop-on, Hop-off circular
City Cruises
  • Westminster and London Eye to Tower and Greenwich
ThamesRiver Services
  • Westminster to Greenwich (and Thames Barrier Cruise in summer only)
Westminster Passenger Services (Upriver)
  • Westminster to Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court (summer only)
The Woolwich Ferry
  • Free to all users at all times.
Emirates Air Line
  • Freedom Passes can be used to buy a discounted printed ticket on the Emirates Air Line
  • FreedomPass holder’s fare is £3.20 one way, which is a discount of £1.10 on the full fare of £4.30. This is the same fare as for any valid Oystercard holder. FreedomPass holders will need to buy a boarding pass from ticket offices or vending machines which are available at both terminals, EmiratesGreenwichPeninsula and Emirates Royal Docks.
  • There will also be a frequent flyer boarding pass for regular users, which will allow passengers to make 10 single journeys for £16, equating to £1.60 per single journey. The frequent flyer boarding pass will appeal to people living or working in the local area who wish to use the Emirates Air Line on a regular basis and will be available to purchase from both Emirates Air Line terminals.
For further information please visit the TfL website.
FreedomPass Facts:
Q: What is happening?
A:London Councils, which runs the FreedomPass on behalf of all the London boroughs and the City of London, is currently reviewing continued eligibility of 1.2million FreedomPass holders in London.
Q: Why is an eligibility review being done now?
A: To prevent fraud, a review of the database is being carried out halfway through the five year term of the Freedom Passes which were issued in 2010. Before then, Freedom Passes were reissued to everyone every two years which meant the database was updated regularly.
Q: How is eligibility being checked?
A:London Councils has contracted a company called QAS to go through its database for FreedomPass holders to check whether any have died or moved out of London.
Q: Is personal information allowed to be used in this way?
A: This check is solely to prevent fraud; to confirm that everyone who has a FreedomPass is entitled to it and to ensure that our records are up to date. The FreedomPass application form informs every applicant that personal information may be used for this purpose. Every Freedom pass holder has agreed to their information being used in this way when they signed the application form.
Q: What happens if a FreedomPass holder has died?
A: If a FreedomPass holder has died, their FreedomPass will be cancelled so it cannot be used by anyone else. People may not be aware that using someone’s FreedomPass after they have died is fraud.
Q: What happens if a FreedomPass holder has moved from the address we have for them on the database?
A:London Councils will write to all FreedomPass holders who have moved from the address on the FreedomPass database. The letters will be sent to the FreedomPass holder’s new address if QAS can provide it or otherwise to the address listed on the database. The recipient will be asked to confirm they are still eligible to have a FreedomPass by providing proof of their current address. Failure to respond to the letter or to provide confirmation of a London address will result in the FreedomPass being cancelled.
Q: What happens if a FreedomPass holder has moved to another address in London?
A: The FreedomPass holder will need to provide proof of their current address, for example a recent utility bill, to confirm they are still eligible to have a FreedomPass. Failure to respond to the letter will result in the FreedomPass being cancelled.
Q: What happens if a FreedomPass holder has moved outside London?
A: People who have moved out of London are no longer eligible for a FreedomPass because it is paid for by all the London boroughs. FreedomPass holders who continue to use their Freedom Passes after moving out of London are committing fraud. Any FreedomPass holder who cannot provide proof that they live in London will have their FreedomPass cancelled.
Q: Who can I contact if I have any questions?
A: If you think your Freedom Pass has been cancelled by mistake or believe the wrong information is held about you or have any questions, please email or telephone 0845 275 7054 (calls from a landline cost the same as a local call but calls from mobiles may be considerably more expensive).