Many people with epilepsy will face increased costs travelling to work or for school or university because of the changes to the bus fare cap, as many can’t use their disabled bus pass before 9:30am. You can download our template letter and use it to write to your MP to ask them to address this issue.
The bus fare cap increase in the Autumn Budget, announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves last week, has been criticised by charities and people with epilepsy.
Labour’s first budget since 2010 is aiming to raise £40bn through increased taxes in order to fund the NHS and other public services.
Some of the changes outlined in the document will improve finances for some people. The minimum wage will rise, as will universal credit payments and state pensions.
However, things like smoking, vaping, bus travel and stamp duty on second homes could cost people more.
One of the changes likely to affect some people with bus journeys to work or school is the increase in the single bus fare cap. In 2025, this will be raised from £2 to £3 in England, outside of London and Greater Manchester.
Daniel Jennings, senior policy and campaigns officer at Epilepsy Action said: “While we welcome some of the proposed measures in the new government’s first budget, we can’t say it was overall a positive one for people with epilepsy.
“The bus fare cap increase from £2 to £3 was a letdown. We know many people with epilepsy aren’t able to drive due to their condition and rely on public transport to get to work or to hospital appointments.”
A “whopping” rise
Responding to the news on the Epilepsy Action Facebook page, people with epilepsy called it a “whopping” and “ridiculous” rise.
One person said: “I have a bus pass which I can’t use until 9:30am in Suffolk. I work part time and if I start at 8am, I pay £4.50 for a 20 min bus ride to work.”
Another said: “It’s ridiculous! My daughter has a disability bus pass – she needs to get to uni for 9am but can’t use her bus pass.
“She wants to study, she would like to work but knows that might come with limitations and it’s not going to help if public transport isn’t free for those who need it.”
Epilepsy Action also criticised the lack of mention of a redress scheme for victims of the valproate scandal in the budget.
Jennings said: “It’s great to see £11.8bn being set aside to compensate the blood scandal victims, and £1.8bn for the victims of the Post Office scandal. But this budget should have taken into consideration the sodium valproate compensation scheme. It’s disappointing this wasn’t mentioned.”
However, Epilepsy Action welcomed the announced government spending into the NHS.
Jennings continued: “On the other hand, the NHS funding boost to deliver on the promise to cut waiting times leave us much more hopeful. The need for neurology waiting times to be improved across the country is enormous, so we welcome any action on this.”
The chancellor added that there would be a review of health and disability benefits.