FAQs

London Borough of Harrow spends a significant amount of money on Concessionary Travel.  Due to the pressures on Adult Social Care and the need to reduce costs the Council must find  savings. In these challenging times it is important that the Council continues to provide safe, efficient, high quality core services that  meet the needs of the most vulnerable. However core services in Adult Services are in high demand and are a high spending area of the Council. As a consequence, Harrow is reviewing the provision of the Discretionary Freedom Pass service and is seeking your views on the proposals below.  

Harrow is the only London local authority offering a scheme specifically for residents suffering mental health issues. Some London Boroughs do not offer discretionary freedom passes at all..

Not straight away - but should an existing pass holder's health improve to the extent that they no longer pass annual future assessment reviews, move out of borough or simply do not apply for a renewal at the end of the pass term, then they too will no longer qualify and will  lose the existing concession

No. We are not looking at changing any of the following schemes:

• Age related / Pensioner Freedom Pass
• Disabled Freedom Pass 
• Taxicard 
• Blue Badge

Not all London Boroughs operate this scheme.  Within Harrow these passes are issued in exceptional circumstances to people who do not meet the Government criteria for the Freedom Pass and suffer acute mental health issues. The Discretionary Freedom Pass is limited to travel within London only. 

Harrow has looked at the extent to which other London Boroughs offer a similar  scheme. No London local authority offered a scheme specifically for residents suffering mental health, and  some did not offer discretionary freedom passes at all.

There are currently 206 live passes issued to Harrow residents and this costs the Council £257,000 each year.  

The proposals are to stop issuing new passes. It is estimated that there are approximately 5 new applicants each year.

The estimated saving is £18,000 over three years, with the first £6,000 expected in 2024/25.

Existing Mental Health needs criteria for a Discretionary Freedom Pass pass to be issued in Harrow:

Receive Middle Rate Care component of Disability Living Allowance and,

Has a severe and enduring mental health illness lasting at least 12 months and where the condition leads to a serious impairment of social functioning and,

Has regular contact with a mental health professional, such as a Psychiatrist or key mental health worker, for example a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) or is on a Care Programme Approach (CPA) 

Or

Requires a mental health day care or clinic two or more times a week, for which they would need a travel permit to attend, as determined by a Community Mental Health Team worker, Psychiatrist or Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN).  A requirement to attend a Mental Health Hospital for regulatory medication. These must be documented as a necessary therapeutic requirement, for example to access treatment, or to participate in therapy or recreational and/or educational activities in order to improve their mental health.

Discretionary Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass eligibility

Exceptional Circumstances where a Freedom Pass will be issued:

Sufferers of chronic medical conditions exacerbated by physical activity, which will also then affect 

their mobility, or to provide an essential escort for learning disability teens/adults where the disabled 

person has a Freedom Pass and can use the bus but cannot travel alone due to cognition/orientation/ 

safety reasons.

Please note that exceptional circumstances do not apply to residents of residential homes. 

Assessment will be based solely on mobility and will not take into account compassionate or financial 

grounds. It should be noted that only one escort pass will be issued, and this will be to the main carer

All of your views will be collected and will help us to listen to your feedback and consider what changes can be made.  The decision will be made by the Portfolio Holder for Finance ad Human Resources, who may decide to take it to Cabinet. 

If changes to services are agreed as a result of the consultation we will write to affected users telling you what will happen and when.

Yes, we have been in touch with 

• Social Care Action Group (SCAG)
•  HAD - Harrow Association of Disabled People
•  MIND - mental health charity Harrow branch
•  AGE UK; and
• Harrow Council's Adult Social Care

We have written to them again in June to notify them of the relaunched consultation.