For more information visit www.tyneandwearmetro.co.uk

Charges:

Older and disabled people

Single: 50p

Transfer: 60p

Use your concessionary travel pass on weekdays from 9:00am.  

For any further information regarding Concessionary Travel contact the Concessionary Travel Bureau at Nexus on 0191 203 3434 .

Older People

You should take with you:

• Proof of your age (for example, State Pension Book, Birth Certificate or your Passport)
• Proof of your permanent address in Tyne and Wear (for example, a Council Tax, Gas or Electricity Bill)
• You should also take a completed application form which is attaché to the 'Travel Concessions for Older & Disabled Persons' leaflet (available from NEXUS or Social Services).

Disabled Persons

To join the scheme you must first contact your local Social Services Department to make an appointment with a Duty Officer who will carry out an Assessment and also issue forms to your GP for confirmation of eligibility. You should take with you to the interview any documentation, which may support your application, i.e. Disability Living Allowance qualification.

Eligible applicants will be given a 'Confirmation of Eligibility' form. This form must be fully completed and signed and stamped by Adult Services staff.

You should also be given a 'Travel Concession for Older or Disabled Persons' leaflet.

You can then visit the Nexus Travel Centre as detailed above taking with you:

• Confirmation of Eligibility form
• Completed application form
• Proof of your permanent address in Tyne & Wear

Applicants who require an 'All Day' pass will have to take written proof of their entitlement to the Issuing Office e.g. letter from employer, tutor or Care Manager (Social Worker).

Q. How do I get a Care Manager (Social Worker)?

A. Contact the relevant service within Adult Services.

Q. What is an assessment ?

A. An assessment looks at a person's abilities to see what services they need to be able to manage in their own home. These are usually to do with daily living such as personal care, mobility and social needs.

Q. How do I get equipment?

A. The Community Equipment Service based at Leechmere Industrial Estate can provide you with equipment to help meet your health and social care needs. You will be referred to the Community Equipment Service by one of the following: Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Care Manager (social worker), District Nurse, Health Visitor or Care Assistant.  For more info contact the Community Equipment Service on: Tel: 0191 521 9730 or email: JELS@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk

Q. How do I make a complaint / compliment?

A. You can write or telephone or someone else can do this for you.  Contact either Adult Services staff you usually deal with or the Complaints and Representations Officer, Performance and Governance, Adult Services, FREEPOST (NT 2433), 50 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, SR1 1BR (this is a freepost address - no stamp needed) or telephone direct on 566 1470. Email: CQS@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk

Where can I dispose of surplus furniture?
Contact the Community Furniture Service - Tel No: 549 4343

Where can I dispose of clothing?
Either through a charity shop or the Women's Refuge-Tel No: 416 3550.

Q. How do I get access to my personal records?

A. If you wish to have access to your records please contact Customer and Quality Services - address / telephone number as above (section on How do I make a complaint / Compliment?).

Where can I get food?
Either from St Gabriels Church, St Gabriels Avenue, off Kayll Road, Sunderland, or from the Salvation Army, High Street East, Sunderland.

I am homeless - where do I go for help?
Help and advice can be obtained from Sunderland Housing Group at any of their local offices 
If you are aged between 16 and 25 there is a special team called the Keys Project who will help you. You will need to apply as homeless at your local housing office [link to Internet address list]. A Housing and Support Worker will arrange an assessment with you to discuss what support you may need to help you apply for and maintain a tenancy. They could also help you arrange temporary accommodation. If you are 16 or 17 then they will arrange for an assessment to take place by a social worker who has experience of working with young people in a similar position.

Q .Who do I speak to about day care / short breaks?

A. Contact Adult Services as you must be referred by a Care Manager (Social Worker).

What do I do about toll concessions?
If you have a tax exempt disc you are able to use the Tyne Tunnel free. The paying booth attendant will come and look at the disc and let you through free of charge. If you are a frequent user of the Tyne Tunnel the paying booth attendant could give you a form to complete to apply for a special pass. This means that the attendant will not need to leave the booth to check the disc every time you use the tunnel and will just ask for sight of your special pass.

Who do I speak to about exemption from road tax?
Contact the Vehicle Registration Office, Eaglestar House, Regent Farm Road, Gosforth. You must produce certificate of entitlement, MOT, insurance documents and Form B10 (available from the Post Office). Tel No 284 1026.

How do I apply for Attendance Allowance / Disability Living Allowance?
Apply to Department of Work and Pensions, Wear View House, Eden Street West, Sunderland SR1 3EY. Tel: No: 554 6300. Email: wearside-do@dwp.gov.uk

Where do I get help to complete forms relating to benefits?
Contact your local Welfare Rights Service , they also deal with a wide range of issues including social security benefit, housing and council/tax enquiries, housing matters, industrial disease, disability benefits including disability living allowance, attendance allowance and incapacity benefit.