York residents aged 60 years and over will be able to collect their free bus passes later this month as part of the Older Persons' Benefits Information Fair taking place at the Guildhall (27 March-20 April) .

Those who are eligible can chose to receive one of the following:
- £40 of National Transport Tokens  that can be used on buses, Park & Ride, trains, taxis and community transport services, such as Dial and Ride and York Wheels.
- a bus pass entitling them to free bus travel anywhere in York and North Yorkshire after 9am.
- or they can exchange their tokens for a Residents' Parking Permit Voucher entitling them to £40 off the full cost of a parking permit

To be eligible for the travel concessions, residents must live in the City of York Council area and be aged 60 or over, or have certain disabilities, including:
- being blind or partially sighted
- being profoundly or severely deaf
- being without speech
- having a chronic illness or disability that have a long term or permanent affect on their ability to walk or use their arms
- having a learning disability
- having been refused or would have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds

Anyone applying for a pass for the first time or whose existing bus pass has expired (or is about to expire) can call at the Guildhall for one of the issuing sessions, taking place between 27 March and 20 April. These sessions are organised on a A-Z of surnames to keep queues to a minimum:

ABC - 27 - 30 March
DEFGHI - 2 - 5 April
JKLMNOPQ - 10 - 13 April
RSTUVWXYZ - 16 - 20 April

Times for the sessions are 9am until 4.30pm from Monday to Thursday, and 9am until 4pm on Fridays.

Bus passes, transport tokens and parking permit vouchers can be obtained at these events. Anyone intending to apply should take along their proof of age, such as a passport or birth certificate,, and proof of their address, such as a household bill dated within the last three months. Passes, tokens and permits can't be issued without this information. Those who can't attend the Guildhall issuing sessions can arrange for someone to collect the concession on their behalf, but they must bring proof of their entitlement.

Residents who wish to apply for concessions of the grounds of disability should contact the council's helpline on 01904 551670 to check that they qualify and to request a separate application form.

Travel concessions, including - for the first time - bus passes,  will also be issued at a series of parish-based sessions between 26 March and 19 April. For a full list of dates and venues, visit the council's website, www.york.gov.uk; pick up a full list of dates and venues from council reception points or local post offices; or call the helpline on 01904 551670 to check where your local session will take place.

Bus passes can also be issued or renewed by post. Simply complete the application/renewal form available from the council's' website at www.york.gov.uk and return it with a passport size photograph (with your name on the back), along with proof of your name and address.

For more information about concessionary fares and applying for bus passes, please cal 01904 551670 or visit www.york.gov.uk

A number of organisations will have information stands at the Older Persons' Benefits Information Fair, including the council's benefits team; Consumer Direct; Age Concern; York Older People's Assembly; Older Citizen's Advocacy York and Target Training.