Travel Voucher Scheme

Suffolk County Council recognises that there are a number of people who cannot access the benefit of free travel on conventional bus services as other residents do who qualify for and use a bus pass.

This could either be for reasons of severe disability or the fact that due to their location, such services are unavailable to them.

The council therefore offers a benefit to those persons in the form of Travel Vouchers that can be used towards their use of community transport, taxis or private hire vehicles.

The value of the vouchers issued is £50 per annum. Voucher Scheme holders cannot also have a Free Travel Bus Pass.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I qualify for the scheme?

For disability qualification:

Anyone with a disability/blindness or injury which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to walk. This being of such severity that you are unable to use conventional public transport services at any time (whether or not those services are available).

Persons applying must provide details of the reason or reasons that you are unable to use conventional public transport and have their application form endorsed by someone who is professionally qualified e.g. doctor/community nurse or involved in your treatment or care.

For remoteness qualification:

For residents who would qualify for a Free Travel Bus Pass but are unable to use the pass as there are insufficient bus services to and from the parish they live in with no more than 3 return bus journeys per week to a town with shops and other services (e.g. healthcare, banking, etc.).

Residents applying for and being issued with Travel Vouchers will not be entitled to a bus pass and give up their right to have one by accepting vouchers instead.

Suffolk County Council is unable to cover any costs incurred getting any letters/proof required from the medical profession or other specified medical person to support your claim for vouchers.

How do I apply?

You can request an application form for Travel Vouchers online or by calling 0845 600 0659

Completed applications are to be returned with a passport-sized photograph to:

SCC Free Travel Bus Pass
PO Box 212
Waterlooville
PO7 6ZN

Please Note: We are only able to process Suffolk County Council application forms. Forms previously produced by Borough or District Council's will not be accepted.

What will I receive?

You will receive a booklet of vouchers which are in £1 denominations, which can be used to pay for your journey by community transport, taxi or private hire vehicles.

Vouchers will be valid from 1st April each year until the 31st March the following year.

If you join part-way through the year, you will be given a pro-rata reduced number of vouchers.

Once you have received the vouchers, Suffolk County Council will contact you each year to see if you wish to continue to receive them and arrange for further vouchers to be sent.

What services can I use my vouchers on?

Vouchers are accepted on participating community transport, taxis or private hire vehicles.

A full list of operators who accept Travel Vouchers is available online. Alternatively you can ring 0845 6000659.

How do I use the vouchers?

Before you make your journey, check that the driver is registered with the scheme and will accept the vouchers.

Each voucher will be personalised to you with your name and photo (it will also have an ID number that will be repeated on each of the vouchers). Vouchers are not transferable to another person.

You can use vouchers at their face value to pay some or all the cost of a journey up to a maximum of £20. The driver will not give you change, so make sure you use them only as part payment for a journey. For example, if your journey costs £3.70 you will not get 30p change if you used 4 vouchers.

Vouchers are only valid for journeys that start or finish within the county of Suffolk borders and cannot be used on conventional transport such as buses and trains.