Over 60s in London are under fire as new figures suggest £84million in lost revenue for the UK capital has been lost to freebie benefits for "workers below the state pension age".
During the 2023-24 financial year, Transport for London (TfL) experienced a dramatic surge in foregone income due to concessionary travel for those aged 60 and above.
This figure marks a substantial jump from £71million in the preceding year and £51million the year before that. Calculations assume all journeys would have been paid at standard adult rates.
Currently, 382,737 people hold active 60+ Oyster photocards, with nearly 120,000 of these registrations occurring in the current financial year alone.
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Over 60s under fire over freebie benefits
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According to TfL's analysis, approximately one-third of trips made using these concessionary cards would cease if passengers had to pay.
Liz Emerson, the chief executive of the Intergenerational Foundation, which examines fairness between age groups, shared her dissatisfaction with the freebie benefit with the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
Ms Emerson said: "On intergenerational fairness grounds, the mayor of London must stop this free travel bung to workers below state pension age."
She questioned why younger employees struggling with record-high living expenses should continue funding these benefits.
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The UK government's expenditure on benefits has also increased over time, with the largest increase in 2020/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ChatGPT "Why should struggling younger workers facing unprecedented living costs continue to subsidise this freebie?"
However, Dennis Reed from Silver Voices, an organisation representing older citizens, argued the scheme generates value beyond its costs.
Reed stated that free travel for older people "more than pays for itself by improved mental and physical health".
He highlighted additional benefits: "(It) enables activities such as unpaid caring of grandchildren so that parents can work and voluntary work worth billions to society."
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Mr Reed added: "What sort of society are we becoming where essential benefits like this are being questioned?"
These contrasting viewpoints emerge against a backdrop of financial strain for TfL, which currently operates with a £23million budget deficit.
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The initial cost for a 60+ Oyster card will increase from £20 to £35, whilst the yearly address verification fee required to maintain the card will jump from £10 to £18.
A spokesperson for TfL stated: "Both the mayor and TfL are committed to making public transport in London as accessible, convenient, and affordable as possible.
"We regularly review our range of concessions to ensure that they continue to benefit Londoners, while also remaining affordable for TfL to operate."