Plans to scrap Bus Pass Age Start.

Plans to raise the age older people are eligible to receive a free bus pass in Wales have been shelved by ministers.

A new law would have seen the age rise to match the state pension age of 65, which rises again to 67 by 2028.

The state pension age should be raised to 75 within the next 16 years to help boost the UK economy, according to a Tory think tank.

In a new report, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has proposed an increase of the pension age to 70 by 2028 and 75 by 2035.

The pension age is already set to increase to 67 by 2028 and to 68 by 2046 – but the organisation, co-founded by former Conservative leader and work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan-Smith, wants to see a faster increase.

The CSJ’s latest report said evidence suggested the UK was “not responding to the needs and potential” of an ageing workforce, with hundreds of thousands of people aged 50 to 64 seen as “economically inactive”.

Minsters have expressed concerns over the cost of the passes with 880,000 expected to be eligible by 2021.

The 60 age start is because Women used to retire at that age and men who did so at 65 were given equallity .

Of course the Women's pension has risen to that of Men and both could possibly  see  the state pension age raised to 75 within the next 16 years to help boost the UK economy, according to a Tory think tank.

In a new report, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has proposed an increase of the pension age to 70 by 2028 and 75 by 2035.

The pension age is already set to increase to 67 by 2028 and to 68 by 2046 – but the organisation, co-founded by former Conservative leader and work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan-Smith, wants to see a faster increase.

The CSJ’s latest report said evidence suggested the UK was “not responding to the needs and potential” of an ageing workforce, with hundreds of thousands of people aged 50 to 64 seen as “economically inactive”.

Cynics will concur that the ruling Labour Party in the Senedd,  possibly realised carrying out  this plan would be political suicide, but they are likely to come back to it as the State Pension Age rises.

Wales Online reported that 

The decision has been welcomed by the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, saying it would have affected up to 300,000 people.
Heléna Herklots said she had "consistently expressed my opposition to the proposals", when they were unveiled by Transport Minister Ken Skates in July.
"Access to free bus travel brings many benefits for older people, supporting their health, well-being and independence, enabling them to remain connected and engaged with their communities, supporting them in their caring responsibilities and enabling them to stay in employment or access learning and training opportunities," the commissioner said
According to a recent consultation, pass holders account for about 47% of bus journeys in Wales, with around 730,000 passes in circulation at the end of 2018.
Bus firms are reimbursed on the basis of an adult single fare, according to a White Paper published last year.

 Figures from 2016 showed the cost of providing free bus travel up to that point was in the region of £840m.A Welsh Government official said Wales was the first country in the UK to introduce free bus travel for older people.
"We will be doing further work to develop a more flexible and long-term approach towards fare concessions, considering financial implications and passenger need," the spokesperson said
"As a result of this additional work, this policy area will not be included in the forthcoming bus legislation," they added.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Welsh Conservatives' spokeswoman on older people, said she was "delighted that a common-sense decision has been made by the Welsh Government just before Christmas".
"It could have seen reduced bus use, threaten the viability of routes, and run the risk of increasing loneliness and isolation," she said.

As a volunteer in my local Community Library  I and my colleagues have helped  literally hundreds of people  to apply for the new type card , which is now administrated by Transport for Wales.

This has been replicated throughout Wales , and many unpaid volunteers have joined Council Staff and others in helping those who have no direct internet access or who are not computer literate.

The old cards will not be functioning after next week so I f you have not managed to replace your existing one , then I am afraid that (unless Transport of Wales extend it , you will not be able to use your old one.

Th