THIS popular weekly column deals with welfare rights issues of interest to people living in Wirral

This week the topic is about free travel passes for the elderly and for people who have a disability living in Merseyside. This article is just a guide and I suggest you get the leaflet about passes from Merseytravel. They are available from 24 Hatton Gardens, Liverpool. Call 236-7676.

PENSIONERS

If you are a woman aged 60 or over or a man aged 65, and your permanent address is in Merseyside, you will be entitled to a bus pass. With this pass you can travel on any bus, train or ferry within Merseyside. The pass can be used at anytime on a Saturday and Sunday as well as Bank Holidays. The pass cannot be used Monday to Friday between 6.31 and 9.29am. There may be a legal argument that men should get a pass at the age of 60.

TRAVEL PASS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

You will be entitled to a free travel pass if you are registered blind. You may be entitled if you are registered partially sighted, registered profoundly deaf, or you are completely without speech.

You may also be entitled if you have a disability which seriously impairs your ability to walk, or a similar walking restriction caused by a heart, chest, spinal or other complaint. If you are mentally handicapped, or have had your driving licence withdrawn on medical grounds by the DVLA, or you suffer from an illness which prevents you holding a driving licence.

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

If you suffer from Alzheimer's Disease or any similar established dementia condition, you may also be entitled.

UNDERLYING RULE

The underlying rule about qualification is as stated at the start of the article. Remember, you must have a permanent address in Merseyside to get the pass.

JIM STRANG'S COMMENTS

If you need to know more about this or any other welfare rights problem, you can write to Jim Strang at Unit 7, 36 Beechwood Drive, Beechwood Estate, Birkenhead, enclosing an SAE, without which you will not get a reply.

If you wish him to act on your behalf, call 606-1188, 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Jim Strang now holds a weekly surgery at Property Link Management, 68 Grange Road West, Birkenhead, on Tuesdays from 2pm until 5pm. Interviews are by appointment only. Ring 652-7885 to arrange to see him.

Jim Strang represents clients on a 'no win, no fee' basis. Details are available from him.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.