Free Travel

INTERNAL GUIDELINES USED FOR PROCESSING FREE TRAVEL APPLICATIONS

INDEX

1. LEGISLATION

2. ADMINISTRATION

3. DESCRIPTION OF SCHEME/QUALIFYING CONDITIONS

3.1 What is Free Travel?
3.2 Eligibility for Free Travel
3.3 How to obtain a Free Travel Pass
3.4 Free Travel for applicant's Spouse/Civil Partner/Cohabitant
3.5 Free Travel for a Companion
3.6 When can a Free Travel Pass be used?
3.7 When is Free Travel not available?
3.8 How to use a Free Travel Pass
3.9 Evidence of Identity
3.10 What to do if a Pass is lost or stolen
3.11 When must a Free Travel Pass be returned?
3.12 Further Information

4. APPLICATION GUIDELINES

4.1 Need to Apply?
4.2 Read the Information Leaflet
4.3 Complete the Application Form
4.4 Free Travel Companion Pass

5. FREE TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT MONITORING

5.1 How long does Free Travel entitlement continue?
5.2 Free Travel retention
5.3 What if the Pass Holder dies?

6. REQUESTS FOR REVIEW OF DECISION

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: Eligibility for Companion Free Travel
APPENDIX 2: Special Free Travel Arrangements.
APPENDIX 3: Cross Border Free Travel
APPENDIX 4: All Ireland Free Travel Scheme (AIFT)

1. LEGISLATION

The Free Travel Scheme is non-statutory, having been introduced and extended by Ministerial Announcement.

2. ADMINISTRATION

The Free Travel Scheme is administered by the Free Travel Section, in the Social Welfare Services Office, Sligo.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SCHEME/QUALIFYING CONDITIONS:

3.1 WHAT IS FREE TRAVEL?

The Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection, allows people who are aged 66 years or over and who are permanently residing in the State, to travel free of charge on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, as well as on the public transport services of a large number of private operators in various parts of the country. Certain incapacitated people under age 66 are also entitled to free travel.

CIE services are provided by Iarnrod Eireann, Bus Eireann and Bus Atha Cliath. A list of private operators who participate in the Free Travel scheme can be obtained from Free Travel Section.

Permanent residents of the Aran Islands and Tory Island may avail of Free Travel on scheduled private air services between the Islands and the mainland. Free Travel on these services, to and from the Aran Islands (only) is available to non resident Free Travel Pass Holders at a reduced rate - See Appendix 2 of this Guide for full details.

Free Travel is also available on Cross-Border bus and rail journeys between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. - Details of the special arrangements which apply to Cross-Border Free Travel are given in Appendix 3 of this Guide.

In addition, if you are aged 66 or over, the All Ireland Free Travel Scheme will entitle you to travel for free on transport services operating internally within Northern Ireland, using a Senior Smartpass card. See Appendix 4 for full details.

3.2 ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE TRAVEL?

An applicant will qualify for Free Travel, if s/he is living permanently in the State (i.e. on an all-year-round basis) and is aged 66 or over. If the applicant is under age 66, in addition to permanently residing in the State, s/he must satisfy any of the conditions below;

be a recipient of one of the following payments;
- Invalidity Pension
- Blind Person's Pension
- Disability Allowance (DA)
- Carer's Allowance (you may get a single status pass only, if you are aged under 66)
- Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation Supplement with Disablement Pension, for at least 12 months
- a Social Security Invalidity/Incapacity Pension/Benefit, or an equivalent payment, for at least 12 months, from a country covered by EC Regulations (see below for details), or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral Social Security Agreement (see below for details)
Live in Health Service Executive approved residential care and has previously received either Disability Allowance (from this Department) or Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance (DPMA - from a Health Service Executive) or would satisfy the medical conditions and means test for Disability Allowance (Free Travel claims pre Jan 2007)
Be a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from this Department (you may get a single status pass only, if you are under age 66)
s/he is blind or severely visually impaired and you satisfy the medical conditions for a Blind Pension.
be a widowed person/surviving civil partner aged between 60 and 65 years inclusive, whose late spouse/civil partner held a Free Travel Pass from this Department, and who at the time of his/her death, resided with him/her on a permanent basis, and who is now receiving one of the following payments and who satisfies the other conditions of the scheme;
- State Pension (Transition), (payable at age 65)
- Widow/Widowers/Surviving Civil Partners Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension
- Widow/Widowers/Surviving Civil Partners Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme
- One-Parent-Family Payment
- Widow's or Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
- An equivalent Social Security Pension/Benefit from a country covered by EC Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement
- an ORDINARY Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice

Countries covered by EC Regulations; Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus (Cyprus South), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.

Countries with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement; Australia, Austria, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, the United States of America, Quebec, Switzerland.

3.3 HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE TRAVEL PASS?

A Free Travel Pass will be issued automatically at age 66 if the applicant is getting a Pension from this Department. Likewise, if the applicant is under age 66, a Free Travel Pass will issue on being awarded an Invalidity Pension, Blind Person's Pension, Disability Allowance, or a Carer's Allowance.

In all other circumstances, a person must apply for a Free Travel Pass by completing an Application Form (FT1) which is available from their local Post Office or their nearest Social Welfare Local Office. The completed form, along with any supporting documentation required, should be forwarded to the following address:

Department of Social Protection
Free Travel Section
FREEPOST
Social Welfare Services Office
College Road
Sligo

* No stamp is required when posting the application form to the Department.

3.4 FREE TRAVEL FOR THE APPLICANT'S SPOUSE/CIVIL PARTNER/COHABITANT

Where a Free Travel applicant is married, in a Civil Partnership or co-habiting, s/he may be entitled to a Free Travel Pass that will allow the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant to accompany the Pass Holder free of charge when travelling. (This does not apply to persons under age 66 who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance or who are nominated carers for people getting a Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from this Department).

3.5 FREE TRAVEL FOR A COMPANION (where the applicant is unfit to travel alone)

Certain incapacitated people who are medically unfit to travel alone are entitled to a Companion Free Travel Pass. This type of Pass allows any one person, aged 16 years or over (not necessarily the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant), to accompany the Pass Holder free of charge, when travelling. The conditions for receipt of a Companion Free Travel pass are set out in Appendix 1 of this Guide.

3.6 WHEN CAN A FREE TRAVEL PASS BE USED?

A Free Travel Pass may be used to travel free of charge on the following transport services at anytime on scheduled services:

Bus Atha Cliath
(NITELINK and Special Airport services are excluded)
Bus Eireann
Provincial City Services in Cork and Limerick cities
Iarnrod Eireann
DART
LUAS
Participating private bus and ferry services
Participating Cross-Border scheduled services (Between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland - See Appendix 3)

3.7 WHEN IS FREE TRAVEL NOT AVAILABLE?

Free Travel is not available

on services which are not listed in the official rail and bus time-tables of Bus Atha Cliath, Bus Eireann or Iarnrod Eireann
on excursion and special bus or rail services
on organised group journeys
on Bus Atha Cliath NITELINK services
on Bus Atha Cliath special Airport services
on First Class or Super Class travel on any service (unless the appropriate fare supplement is paid)

3.8 HOW TO USE A FREE TRAVEL PASS

If travelling by Bus Atha Cliath, Bus Eireann or on private bus operator services, the Pass Holder must produce their Free Travel Pass to the bus driver on boarding the bus. A bus ticket is not issued, nor required.

Before using Iarnrod Eireann Mainline, DART or Outer Suburban services, the Pass Holder must present his/her Free Travel Pass at the ticket booking desk in the train station of departure, in order to obtain a free rail ticket. If undertaking a day return journey only, the Pass Holder will be issued with a Day Return ticket. In all other cases, a Single journey ticket will be issued, and a further Single journey ticket must be obtained before making the return journey.

When using Private Ferry services, the Pass Holder should present his/her Free Travel Pass to the Ferry Operator. In some instances, a ticket will be issued.

3.9 EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY

Whenever a person is travelling using their Free Travel Pass, s/he must produce their Pass for inspection to an Inspector of the Transport Operator or to an Official of the Department of Social Protection, if asked. If considered necessary, the Pass Holder and/or his/her accompanying spouse/civil partner/cohabitant must also produce evidence of their identity by providing a sample of signature to the officials mentioned above. These officials have the authority to confiscate a Free Travel Pass if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the Pass is being misused.

If a passholder lives in Dublin, Cork city, Galway city, Limerick city or Waterford city, they are also required to produce a Free Travel Photo ID, which can be obtained from CIE, free of charge.

3.10 WHAT TO DO IF THE FREE TRAVEL PASS IS LOST?

If a Free Travel pass is lost or stolen, the Pass Holder should complete form FT27 in order to apply for a replacement Free Travel Pass. This form is available on request from the Department's Free Travel Section or can be downloaded from the Department's website at 'www.welfare.ie'.

3.11 IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES MUST THE FREE TRAVEL PASS BE RETURNED?

In the event of any of the following occurring, the Free Travel Pass must be returned to the address given below:

The passholder does not continue to reside on a permanent basis in the State
The Pass Holder changes address (Pass must be returned for change of address and renewal)
The Pass Holder no longer satisfies the criteria applicable to his/her particular Free Travel entitlement (Companion status will be amended as necessary, and appropriate replacement Pass will be issued)
the pass is worn or illegible
the passholder is no longer in receipt of a qualifying payment

3.12 FURTHER INFORMATION

Information on the Free Travel Scheme is available from:

Free Schemes Section
Social Welfare Services Office
College Road,
Sligo.

Telephone: LoCall 1890 500 000 (from Republic of Ireland) or 00 353 71 9193315 (from Northern Ireland or overseas)

4. APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

4.1 NEED TO APPLY?

Where a person is receiving a Pension from this Department and living permanently in the State, a Free Travel Pass will be automatically issued on his/her 66th birthday.

A person aged under 66 years, who is awarded any of the payments listed below, will be automatically issued a Free Travel Pass.

Invalidity Pension
Blind Person's Pension
Disability Allowance
Carer's Allowance

If you are not in receipt of any of the above, you must complete an application form, FT1. This form is available from your local post office or from Free Travel Section at the address given at Section 3.3

4.2 READ THE INFORMATION LEAFLET

Before completing Form FT 1, the applicant should first read Information Leaflet SW 40 for details of the qualifying conditions for a Free Travel Pass.

4.3 COMPLETE THE FORM

Applicants should ensure that the following has been done before submitting their application form:

Birth/Marriage Certificates, as required, are enclosed
Medical Certification, where necessary, is submitted.
Application form is signed and dated.
PPS Number (Personal Public Service) is supplied. If you do not know this number, please contact your local Social Welfare Office.

4.4 FREE TRAVEL COMPANION PASS

See Appendix 1 of this Guide.

5. FREE TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT MONITORING

5.1 HOW LONG DOES FREE TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT CONTINUE?

Where the Pass Holder is aged 66 years or over, Free Travel entitlement continues as long as s/he permanently resides in the State.

Where the Pass Holder is aged under 66 years, Free Travel entitlement continues as long as s/he permanently resides in the State, and continues to receive one of the qualifying payments for Free Travel listed in Section 3.2 of this Guide.

5.2 FREE TRAVEL RETENTION

Where a pass holder transfers to another payment from the Department of Social Protection, or participates in certain types of community work projects:

A Free Travel Pass holder receiving Disability Allowance or Blind Person's Pension who transfers to a Back-to-Work Allowance scheme (BTWA) may retain his/her Free Travel Pass for the duration of the BTWA payment (up to 3 years for most transferees, but 4 years for people in designated Partnership Areas, who take up self employment).

A Free Travel Pass holder who participates in a Community Employment project, an Employee Support Scheme or a Pilot Project for People with Disabilities, is entitled to retain the Free Travel Pass for the duration of the project.

A Free Travel Pass holder who receives Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance or Blind Person's Pension, may retain his/her Free Travel Pass on transfer to any other Department of Social Protection payment (excluding Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance, Illness Benefit and Pre-Retirement Allowance).

5.3 WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PASS HOLDER DIES?

The representative(s) of the deceased should return the Free Travel Pass to Free Travel Section.

6. REQUESTS FOR CASE REVIEW

As the Free Travel Scheme is a Non-Statutory Scheme, there is no legislative right of appeal to the Social Welfare services Office. However, a person who is dissatisfied with a decision in relation to his/her application for Free Travel is entitled to a review by another and more senior official of the Department.

Any person who wishes to have a decision reviewed should write to Free Travel Section, Social Welfare Services Office, College Road, Sligo, stating in detail why s/he thinks the decision is incorrect.

The case will be considered fully and fairly, and the person notified in writing of the outcome, at an early date.

Appendices

APPENDIX 1 - ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPANION FREE TRAVEL:

A Companion Free Travel Pass entitles the Pass Holder to have any one person, aged 16 years or over, to accompany him/her free of charge when travelling.

The following people are eligible to receive a Companion Free Travel Pass:

Free Travel Passholders aged 66 or over

You are aged 66 to 69 inclusive and are medically assessed as unfit to travel alone.
You are aged 70 or over and are medically unfit to travel alone.
You are receiving full-time care and attention from someone who is getting Carers Allowance from this Department.
You are certified by either the Irish Wheelchair Association or by your GP as being a permanent wheelchair user.
You are blind or severly visually impaired and
- satisfy the blindness condition for the Blind Pension or
- you are registered as a blind person with either the National Council for the Blind of Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland.

Free Travel Passholders aged under 66

You are getting Disability Allowanve or Invalidity Pension or Disablement Pension and Incapacity Supplement and are medically assessed as unfit to travel alone.
You live in Health Service Executive (HSE) - approved residential care, and are mediaclly assessed as unfit to travel alone and you:
- were previously getting Disability Allowance, or
- are assessed as being medically suitable for Disability Allowance.
You are blind or severely visually impaired and you:
- are getting a Blind Pension or
- satisfy the blindness codition for the Blind Pension or
- are registered as a blind person with either the National Council for the Blind of Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland.
You are getting one of the qualifying payments listed at Section 3.2 and you are certified by either the Irish Wheelchair Association or by your GP as being a permanent wheelchair user.
You are receiving full-time care and attention from someone who is getting Carers Allowance from this Department. To qualify for a companion pass based on this condition, you must be entitled to a Free Travel Pass in your own right. See conditions for free travel (Section 3.2)

Free Travel Companion Pass for a visually - impaired child:

A visually impaired child will qualify for a Free Travel Companion Pass if they are under age 18 and either they:

satisfy the blindness condition for a Blind Pension, or
are registered with the National Council for the Blind or the National League of the Blind of Ireland

APPENDIX 2 - SPECIAL FREE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

AIRLINE SERVICE TO/FROM THE ARAN ISLANDS, CO. GALWAY

Free Travel Pass Holders, residing on a permanent basis on any of the Aran Islands (i.e. Inis Mor, Inis Meain, Inisheer), are entitled to travel free of charge on Aer Arann services from the islands to Galway City and vice versa. Aer Arann operates an airline service between the Aran Islands and Aerphort Chonamara at Indreabhan, Co. Galway. The company also provides a shuttle bus service between Aerphort Chonamara and Galway City.

A Pass Holder may undertake up to 12 single journeys (or up to 6 return journeys between the Aran Islands and Galway City each year. Any number of additional journeys may also be made at a special reduced rate. Where the appropriate type of Free Travel Pass is held, the Pass Holder's spouse/civil partner/cohabitant may accompany him/her free of charge on these trips. If a Companion Free Travel Pass is held, any one person, aged 16 years or over, may accompany the Pass Holder free of charge.

Pass Holders not permanently residing on the Aran Islands may travel on Aer Arann's airline and bus services between Galway City and the Aran Islands at a reduced cost. The Pass Holder's spouse/partner, or a companion may accompany him/her at the reduced rate, where the appropriate type of Pass is held [This concession also applies to Northern Ireland Travel Pass holders undertaking cross-border journeys to and from the Aran Islands (but not to their spouse or companion, unless s/he is a Pass holder in his/her own right - See APPENDIX 3, first paragraph).

HELICOPTER SERVICE TO/FROM TORY ISLAND, CO DONEGAL

Free Travel Pass Holders residing on a permanent basis on Tory Island, Co. Donegal, are entitled to travel free of charge on the helicopter service, which is operated during the Winter period only, between the island and Falcarragh on the mainland. A Pass holder may undertake up to 8 single journeys (or up to 4 return journeys) each year. The spouse/civil partner/cohabitant or companion of the Pass Holder may accompany you him/her free of charge, where the appropriate type of Free Travel Pass is held.

APPENDIX 3 - CROSS BORDER FREE TRAVEL

CROSS-BORDER FREE TRAVEL

A Free Travel Pass may be used to travel free of charge on cross-border journeys between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and vice versa. The Pass Holder's spouse/partner person may accompany him/her free of charge where the appropriate type of Pass is held. Alternatively, if the Pass Holder holds a Companion Free Travel Pass, any one companion aged 16 years or over may accompany him/her free of charge.

Residents of Northern Ireland who hold a Northern Ireland Concessionary Travel Pass may also travel free on cross-border journeys. However, the spouse/partners or companions of Northern Ireland Pass Holders are not entitled to Free Travel on such journeys unless they also hold a Concession Travel Pass in their own right.

EXTENT OF FREE CROSS-BORDER JOURNEYS AVAILABLE

A Cross-Border Free Travel journey must originate in one jurisdiction and terminate in the other jurisdiction.

The Cross-Border journey may be undertaken using one mode of transport only i.e. bus or train. It is not possible to use a combination of both modes of transport.

The journey must be undertaken on the basis of one through-ticket. This means, for example, that the Pass Holder can travel free by train from say, Cork to Belfast, provided that the free ticket which s/he obtained in the Cork railway station clearly denotes Belfast as the final destination. The same principle applies when travelling by bus on Cross-Border journeys.

TRANSPORT OPERATORS WHO PROVIDE FREE CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL

The following Transport Operators provide Cross-Border Free Travel services for both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Pass Holders:

Bus Eireann
Ulsterbus
Iarnrod Eireann
Northern Ireland Railway
Lough Swilly Bus Company, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Halpenny Transport Ltd., Blackrock, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Patrick Gallagher, Brinalack, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Foyle Coaches, Clar, Redcastle, Co. Donegal

TRAVELLING BY BUS

When travelling by bus, the Free Travel Pass should be presented to the bus driver, on boarding the bus, before departure.

On Bus Eireann, Ulsterbus and Lough Swilly Bus Company services, the bus driver will issue the Pass Holder with a single journey ticket. This ticket is valid on the date of issue only. If the Pass Holder wishes to undertake a return Cross-Border bus journey, s/he should get a single journey ticket for the outward part of the journey, and later, a further single journey ticket for the homeward journey.

If travelling with any of the other bus operators mentioned in above, the Pass Holder will be issued with either a single or a return journey ticket as required.

TRAVEL BY RAIL

To undertake a Cross-Border journey by train, the Pass Holder must first complete a Travel Warrant. Warrants are available in most train stations in Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, in Information Offices of the Department of Social Protection(Republic of Ireland) and in Offices of the Department of Social Security (Northern Ireland). The Pass Holder should present the completed warrant and his/her Travel Pass at the ticket desk in the train station of departure. S/he will then be issued with either a free single or a free return Standard Class ticket as required.

The Free Travel entitlement is Standard Class travel. If the Pass Holder wishes to travel "First Plus" class, s/he may do so on payment of the appropriate fare supplement.

To avoid unnecessary delay at the ticket desk, the Pass Holder should complete the Warrant well in advance of undertaking the rail journey and obtain a free rail ticket at least 15 minutes before the train is due to depart.

BREAKS IN CROSS-BORDER RAIL JOURNEYS

It is not necessary to complete a Cross-Border Free Travel train journey in one day. For example, if travelling from Cork to Belfast, the Pass Holder may spend up to 2 nights in Dublin as part of his/her journey. However, the outward part of the journey must be fully completed within 3 days of the date of issue of the ticket.

TRANSFER BETWEEN CONNOLLY AND HEUSTON RAILWAY STATIONS

If, as part of a Cross-Border Free Travel rail journey, the Pass Holder has to transfer between Connolly and Heuston stations in Dublin, s/he may travel free of charge on Bus Atha Cliath's route no. 90 bus.

REFUNDS/DISCOUNTS

No monetary refunds or discounts will be given for late train departures, or for any other delays experienced while undertaking a Cross-Border Free Travel journey.

APPENDIX 4 - All Ireland Free Travel Scheme (AIFT)

What is It?

Since April 2007, the All Ireland Free Travel Scheme allows a Free Travel Passholder to travel for free on the various travel services operating within Northern Ireland.

Similarly Northern Ireland Senior Smartpass holders are entitled to travel for free on services within the Republic of Ireland using their existing Senior Smartpass.

Who can travel?

- To qualify for free travel within Northern Ireland, you must be in receipt of a Free Travel Pass and aged 66 years or over
Under the terms of the concessionary fares scheme in Northern Ireland, only Free Travel Passholders over age 66 are entitled to travel free of charge in Northern Ireland. The spouse/partner or companion is not eligible to accompany the Passholder for free in Northern Ireland under this scheme.
Similarly only the Northern Ireland passholder is eligible for Free Travel in Republic of Ireland i.e. no spouse/companion
A spouse/partner or companion may continue to travel with the Free Travel Passholder for free on cross-border journeys (i.e. journeys starting in the Republic of Ireland and ending in Northern Ireland or vice versa).
Free Travel Passholders wishing to avail of All Ireland Free Travel within Northern Ireland must first obtain a Senior SmartPass card. This Senior Smartpass must be used while travelling in Northern Ireland only.

How can a customer get a Senior Smartpass?

An application form (FTNI1) must be completed (using black pen or biro). As these forms are individually bar coded, photocopies cannot be used.
This application must be brought to the customers nearest Social Welfare Local Office (See note below) along with:
- A recent passport standard colour photograph, and
- Evidence of identity (driving licence/passport/any other form of photo id, if available), and
- Evidence of address(a recent utility bill, e.g. electricity/gas/phone/waste charges bill or a bank/building society/credit union statement), and
- Current Free Travel Pass and Pension book (if available)
Following processing of the application, a Senior SmartPass card, together with instructions for use, will be posted direct to the customer's home address by post. It may take up to six weeks to process the application.

Note:
Details of Local Offices are listed in the SW 4, on the green pages of the phone directory and also on the Department's website 'www.welfare.ie/contact/index'