Ceredigion Cost of Living E- Bulletin

Travel and Transport

The Blue Badge Scheme is a European arrangement of parking concessions for people who are disabled or who have severe walking difficulties or severe cognitive impairment.

A blue badge is available to both drivers and passengers. The European scheme is intended to allow badge holders (the person to whom the badge was issued), to park closer to their destination.

60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

You're entitled to a Concessionary Travel Card if you're at least 60 years old and your primary residence is in Wales.

Apply for your concessionary Travel Card here.

Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

You're entitled to a Concessionary Travel Card if you're an eligible disabled person and your primary residence is in Wales. If you're a disabled person and your condition limits your ability to travel alone you may be able to get a companion card that will allow someone else to travel with you for free.

Apply for your concessionary Travel Card here.

If you need to take a train journey it is worth checking whether any of the national railcards will cover you and if the discount on the cost of your fare will save you more than the price of the card - £30 a year or £70 for three years.

They are available for people aged 16 to 30, over 60, disabled or veterans or when families and two people travel together. Typically the fare is reduced by a third.

Travelling by public transport can be hard if you’re disabled. When things go wrong it can be hard to know what your rights are, or how to make a complaint. Especially when this information is split across different sources.

Over a quarter of disabled people told Scope they would be more likely to make a complaint if they had a better understanding of their rights.

We want all disabled people to know their rights and to be empowered to act when things go wrong.

That’s why Scope have created Right to Ride, a one-stop transport rights guide, developed with the Department for Transport (DfT).

If you need to travel to receive NHS treatment under the care of a consultant, you may be entitled to help with necessary travel costs.

You may be eligible for help if:

• you are getting certain benefits
  
• you have a low income
  
• you are 16 or over but under 20 and are counted as a dependant of someone getting certain benefits
  
• you are 16 or over and not a dependant of a person who gets benefits or credits. In this case you can make your own claim, even if you live with your parents.
  

If the patient is a child under 16, it is their parent's income that counts.

If you are not sure what travel costs you can get help with, ask the hospital before you travel.

Dolen Teifi Community Transport

It is now some 10 years since Llandysul & Pont Tyweli Ymlaen acquired the use of the community bus from Ceredigion County Council, and as one of the Ymlaen projects Dolen Teifi Community Transport was set up.

Since the initial set up, Dolen Teifi now manage 6 mini buses as well as 2 Cady cars which are used to carry wheelchairs as well as 4 passengers, the service now extends to both Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

For more information contact 01559 362403 or info@dolenteifi.org.uk.

Cardigan Town Rider

The Cardigan Town Rider is a minibus service operated by Preseli Rural Transport Association also known as Green Dragon Bus – It runs in Cardigan town and the surrounding areas – including Aberporth, Beulah, Llechryd, Llangoedmor, St. Dogmaels, Penyparc, Parcllyn, to name but a few.

The service runs in different areas on the three days of operation Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays between 9.30 and 15.30. Anyone can use the service if they cannot access normal public transport for whatever reason. Those with the All Wales Concessionary Bus Pass can travel for free otherwise a fare applies. Passengers must book their seat on the bus giving 48 hours notice before the day they wish to travel.

Please contact Green Dragon on 0845 686 0242

Leave a message if asked and we will return your call.

If you are unable to make an essential journey because of a lack of transport, Ceredigion Country Cars may be able to help.

Country Cars is a voluntary transport scheme co-ordinated by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and funded by Ceredigion County Council, which provides transport for residents of Ceredigion, regardless of age, who do not have transport available for essential journeys. The charge is based on mileage. Country Cars do not replace other public transport services and must link with those services wherever possible.

Essential journeys include:

• Visits to doctor, dentist, chiropodist, optician
  
• Visiting sick friends and relatives
  
• Meeting bus or train services
  
• Essential shopping
  
• Collection of prescriptions
  
• Important personal business (solicitor, accountant etc.)
  

For further information, enquiries as to eligibility and to make bookings contact: 0781 248 5809 or robert.evans@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

If you are called into the Job Centre for an appointment, sometimes bus fares can be refunded (by the Job Centre). Check with your work coach for more information about this.

Cycle to Work Scheme

The Tax free “Cycle to Work Scheme” is a Government initiative. Most schemes deduct the cost of a new bike from your gross salary, not your net earnings. That means you don't pay income tax or national insurance on the payments you're making on the bike. This is where you save money.

A basic rate taxpayer normally pays 20% income tax and 12% national insurance, so would save 32%. The payments are deducted out of your payslip over 12 or 18 months.

On top of your cycle to work savings, for a 3 mile daily commute it's estimated that you could also save around £100 each year on fuel.

Ask your employer if they’ve signed up to this scheme.

Head to the County Council’s website for information on

Cost-of-living support :

Cost of Living Support - Ceredigion County Council