How does a Freedom Pass help homeless people?

Over half of all homeless people are also disabled people. Put simply, a Freedom Pass allows people with certain disabilities free travel across London on buses, trams, and all trains. In order to obtain a Freedom Pass the applicant must fill out an application form correctly,  and this is not easy. Good4You helps applicants to fill in the forms correctly and to get appropriate support from medical experts. 

Freedom Passes: Who can get one?

Using Disability Legislation to help Homeless People

 

It is important to know that you get help and access to things for special reasons. Some disabled people who are homeless can get a Freedom Pass because they are disabled, and not because of being homeless. The reason they give it to you is disability, not homelessness.

Section 6 of the Equality Act of 2010 defines who is disabled.

6 Disability

(1) A person (P) has a disability if—

(a) P has a physical or mental impairment, and

(b) the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The Transport Act 2000 [Section 151 (4)] stipulates that SOME disabled people are entitled to a Freedom Pass. These are people who are:

(a) over 60 years old (whether disabled or not)

(b) who are blind;

(c) who are partially sighted;

(d) who are profoundly or severely deaf;

(e) who are without speech;

(f) who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk;

(g) who do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms;

(h) who have a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; or

 (i) who, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, 1988 c. 52. would have their applications refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.”

The only other requirement is that the person must live in London. Homeless people and foreigners and people who are not entitled to benefits are also entitled to get a Freedom Pass if they meet the requirements.

Driving Licence Clause

Under Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 the Secretary of State may refuse to issue a driving licence on the grounds of the applicant's medical fitness. Those who are currently barred from holding a licence are people with:

i. epilepsy (unless it is of a type which does not pose a danger);

ii. severe mental disorder;

iii. liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting (whether as a result of cardiac disorder or otherwise);

iv. inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with lenses if worn);

v. other disabilities which are likely to cause the driving of vehicles by them to be a source of danger to the public.

The Transport Act 2000, read in conjunction with Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, stipulates, by Act of Parliament, that a person is entitled to a Freedom Pass if they have an “inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with lenses if worn)”.

 Being partially sighted

The GLA guidance says, with reference to Section 151 (4) (c) (being partially sighted):

“A person can be registered as sight impaired (partially sighted) if they have a full field of vision but can only read the top letter of the eye test chart at a distance of 6 metres or less (with glasses, if worn).”

http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/informationlocalauthorities/guidancedisabled/ancetolocalauthoritieson3561.pdf