Senior Citizen And Retirement Age

[fruitsalad]

Will I become a senior citizen and be able to get SC rates when I am 60 or will I become a SC at my now retirement age of 67?

[mikey4444]

Here in Wales, you get a bus pass at age 60 !

[fiction-factory]

Hi. Senior citizen rates for what? Do you mean things like reduced rate ticket prices at football matches?

[fruitsalad]

Yes FF hair cuts, tickets etc.

[Hopkirk]

I'm not too far off 60, but I'm a long way off being a senior citizen.

[Baldric]

My first Bus Pass expires next month, won't be renewing it, probably used it 4, maybe 5 times, not pleasant experiences tbh.

[jno]

depends on your hairdresser, I would have thought. And your council etc. I got a bus pass when I was 60, which was before the official retirement age then; but that was up to the council.

[fiction-factory]

things like hair cuts, pensioners fish and chips, reduced rate theatre tickets etc are all down to the vendor.

[jno]

I wouldn't be without mine, Baldric. Free travel all over London, and when I go beyond London I only have to buy train tickets etc from the M25 or thereabouts.

[Tilly2]

Lots of places do concessionary rates for the over sixties, FS. You just have to find out which ones.

[OldBather]

I am 70, and have found that where a discount is offered it is usually 60 years of age (equally for men and women)or NO discount is offered.However,don't be shy about asking if you can't see a discount,as some places "hide" it.

[fruitsalad]

My local hairdressers offers SC rates, I have never been in there but it got me wondering if I will be classed as SC when I reach 60 or on retirement which I believe I will have to be 67

[Tilly2]

60, FS.

Most concessionary rates begin at 60.

[Buenchico]

I found that barbers were charging me the 'senior citizen' price, without asking me whether I qualified for it, not long after I was 50!

A few things are fixed but many are entirely discretionary. (e.g. Hairdressers can give you the lower price when you're 50, insist that you wait until you're 70 or simply not offer any discount at all).

For what it's worth though . . .

You qualify for free bus travel at the age when you first get your state pension (or, for a man, when a woman born on the same day as him first gets her state pension) in England. Elsewhere in the UK you qualify at 60. (Passes are only valid in the relevant country. You can't, for example, use a Welsh bus pass in England or vice versa).

You can get a Senior Coachcard (giving you a third off National Express coach services) for £12 (+£2 p&p) when you're 60.

You can get a Senior Railcard (giving you a third off rail travel) at 60. It costs £30 per year (online or from rail stations) or £70 for three years (online only).

Organisations such as English Heritage offer discounted membership fees from age 60. (With the National Trust though you also need to have paid the full rate for 5 out of the previous 10 years in order to qualify).

Museums vary. Some give a discount for people over 60; others insist that you're at least 65. However I've never known any to actually ask for proof of age anyway.

[pastafreak]

Because this is a university town, there are signs all over for student discounts...everyone wants their money. Nothing for us oldies...who may have the same spending power. ( or need for discounted food,clothing,etc )

[EDDIE51]

No actual law but a 'Senior Citizen' is normally taken to mean a person male or female, over 60.
I get the senior citizen haircut rate of £7.50 and my local fish and chip shop does a 'senior citizen fish and chips' for £2.85 which I also get. Never needed to prove my age ! I'm 66 by the way.
Keep meaning to get a bus pass ( it is free) as well as free travel for all bus journeys starting in my home county you get 1/2 price rail fares ( out of peak hours ) anywhere between London and Cambridge without having to buy a senior rail card