This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
There are some brilliant things about your sixtieth birthday. Being entitled to call yourself an OAP isn’t one of them, but the discounts and benefits for over 60’s that we receive in the UK definitely are. Although state pensions, and the age you can claim yours, are in a worrying state of flux, there are still great savings to be had once you have left your fifties behind you.
FREE / DISCOUNTED SENIOR RAIL CARD
The reason I thought of doing this post is because although most of us know that Senior Railcards exist (you pay £30 and get 1/3 off your train tickets for a year, or pay £70 for three years), you may be able to get one completely free. Phone your local council and ask for a free senior rail card rather than a free bus pass. Not all councils do it but definitely worth checking as you may, like me, be given a code that gives you the card completely free.
DISCOUNTS ON AIR FARES
BA, Air France and Delta offer discounts to over 60s – although they don’t exactly shout about it! Worth checking the relevant website if you are booking a flight though. And while you are abroad, a number of European countries either offer a reduced admission fee or don’t charge at all for tourist attractions if you’re a European citizen over the age of 65.
CINEMA & THEATRE CONCESSIONS
Don’t forget to get your reduced price tickets when booking tickets. Odeon’s Silver Cinema club for example charges £3 per ticket and you’ll also get a cup of tea/coffee and biscuits before the film starts. There are also discounts at many museums including Tate Modern, Royal Observatory and Imperial War Museums.
NATIONAL TRUST: SENIOR MEMBERSHIP
If you’ve been a National Trust member for five out of the last 10 years, you could be eligible for a senior membership (25% off) once you turn 60, but you need to contact the National Trust to activate it.
FREE EYE TESTS & PRESCRIPTIONS
You are entitled to free eye tests and NHS prescriptions when you are 60. The latter can be quite a saving when you think the current charge is £9 for each medicine or appliance dispensed.
WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE
You have to be over 65 for this one but you are entitled to a lump sum of up to £250 tax free in the UK (and over 80s can claim £300) – a welcome winter fuel payment towards energy costs that you will receive every November.
EXTRA POINTS/DISCOUNTS AT BOOTS
Only recently got the heads up on this one. I think Boots has one of the most generous loyalty schemes in the high street and when I found out I could upgrade my existing Advantage card to the More Treats For Over-60s club I now receive 10 Advantage Card points rather than the usual 4 for every £1 spent in store on Boots’ own brand products, as well as 25% off glasses.
PLEASE NOTE: Benefits vary according to where you live in the UK and may be different if you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
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