Who is eligible for the 3in1 card?
You can get a 3in1 card if you live in West Sussex*,
are aged 5-19 and in school or full-time further education (*Please
note that your Council Tax billing authority must be West Sussex in
order to be eligible for the 3in1 Card scheme).
How do I apply?
You need to complete a 3in1 card application form and enclose 1
passport-style photograph. Before sending us your form, you will
also need to take it to your school or college and ask your teacher
or tutor to sign both the form and the back of your
photo.
Download the Application Form and Low Income Exemption Form
If you already have an application form, please ensure that it
is the current version which includes the payment section (part
C).
When and where will I receive my card?
It normally takes around 4-6 weeks for your card to arrive, from
when we receive your completed application form. Your card will be
sent to your home address. If you are in sixth form or college,
your card will be sent to your school or college for you to
collect.
How much does it cost to apply?
There is now a fee of £50.00 for all new and renewal 3in1 card
applications. Payment must be made with your application form,
unless you qualify for fee exemption (see below).
Important note for applicants in Year 11 and
above: if you are applying now for your new or renewal
card, under the terms of the scheme your card will only be valid
until 30 September 2012. Therefore, we will reduce the application
fee accordingly. For further information and to find out how much
you need to pay, please call us on 01243 777330 or email us at
info@yourspacewestsussex.co.uk
before sending your application form.
Who is exempt from the fee?
If you receive free school meals you will be exempt
from paying the fee. Just tick the ‘free school meals’ box on the
new application form.
You can also claim fee exemption if your family meets certain
low income criteria. You will need to complete a Low Income
Exemption Form (see link above) and provide a copy of
appropriate benefit evidence.
Children who are 'looked after' by the County Council's
Children's Services, in residential or fostered accommodation, are
also exempt from paying the application fee. Your carer should
enclose a note confirming this when you send your application
form.
Why have you introduced a fee for the 3in1
card?
Unfortunately, with the growing financial pressures the County
Council is currently facing, we have had to make some very
difficult decisions about how we spend the limited resources we do
have. A review of this scheme was undertaken as part of the
council’s overall budget review. The decision to charge £50 was
based on this review and took into account the experience of other
local authorities who have already started charging for similar
schemes.
Even with a fee the card can still offer considerable savings on
bus travel, especially if the card is used to travel to school or
college every day. Remember that the card can be used on buses at
all times of the day - and on weekends and holidays - so it
represents better value for money the more often it is used.
Please note that if you will be starting Year 11 or Sixth Form
from September, the card will be valid for 1 year only, so you will
need to consider whether you will make enough bus journeys to
justify the purchase of a card. For all other School Years, the
card will be valid for 3 years, or until your child reaches the end
of Year 11 (whichever is sooner).
How do I make a payment?
You can pay by cheque, postal order, debit or credit card (we
accept the following cards: JCB, Maestro, Mastercard, Solo, Visa
and VisaDebit). Full payment details are provided on the
application form. We are not currently able to take online
payments.
How long is the 3in1 card valid for?
All cards carry an expiry date, after which they cannot be used
to claim reduced bus fares.
If you are in school, your card will be valid for 3 years or
until you reach the end of Year 11, whichever is sooner.
If you are in sixth form or college, your card will be valid for
1 year only.
I already have a 3in1 card – will the new application
fee affect me?
Not until you renew your card. You can carry on using your
current card until it expires and you do not need to pay for a new
card in the meantime.
I'm 16 - which 3in1 card will I get?
If you are in Year 11 at secondary school, you will receive the
Yellow 3in1 card for cheaper bus travel. This card will remain
valid until the 30 September after you leave Year 11. If you are in
sixth form or college (full-time) you will receive the Green 3in1
card for half fare bus travel, instead of having to pay the full
adult fare.
I have a 'yellow' Under 16 card but have now turned 16 - do
I need a new card?
No – you can continue to use your card until the expiry date
printed on the card. Your date of birth is printed on the card and
this is your proof of age. (We are no longer printing any age bands
on 3in1 cards.)
I am a part-time student - can I get a 3in1
card?
The scheme is only open to students in full-time further
education. This is defined as 12 hours or more of guided learning
per week, for a minimum of ten weeks, on further education courses
in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and Further Education
colleges. Students in higher education are not eligible to enter
the scheme.
Can children who attend private or boarding schools, or who
are home educated, apply for the card?
Yes. If you are at boarding school, you must be
resident in West Sussex for at least 35 weeks of the year. If you
are educated at home, please enclose a copy of your birth
certificate with your application form.
Can I get a 3in1 card if I already get free or
concessionary transport to school?
Yes. You can use the 3in1 card for bus travel at any time,
including weekends, and benefit from the retail discounts and proof
of age ID.
Do I need to carry my 3in1 card at all times to get
reduced fares?
Yes - you must show your 3in1 card together with your discounted
ticket to the driver on all bus journeys you make.
Can the card be used with other bus offers?
Please check with your local
bus operator.
What discounts can I get and where will they be
available?
For all the latest information including special offers, retail
discounts and competitions, please see our West
Sussex discounts page. These are updated from time to time so
check back regularly to find out what's going on.
New cardholders can now also access the
CitizenCard LEALTA discount scheme, offering great discounts at
a wide selection of nationwide shops, restaurants, cinemas, bowling
alleys and many other venues.
The 3in1 card has a new design – is my
old card still valid?
Yes, all 3in1 cards remain valid until the
expiry date printed on the card. You can continue to use your
current card for cheaper bus fares, West Sussex discounts and ID
until it expires.
If you applied for a card since the fee was introduced in May
2011, we will automatically send you a new design card sometime in
November. This will enable you to access CitizenCard’s LEALTA
discount scheme.
If you applied for a 3in1 card before 9 May 2011, you will not
automatically be sent a new card but don’t worry - you can keep on
using your card with all its existing benefits until it expires.
You can also choose to upgrade to a new design card, giving you
access to the LEALTA discount scheme but please note that a
replacement card fee of £12 applies. Please see below for how to
request a replacement card.
How do I replace my lost, stolen or damaged card – or
request a new style card?
We can issue a replacement card for a fee of £12. You do not need
to send us a new form or photograph.
You can pay the replacement fee by one of the following:
- Credit or debit card: we accept JCB, Maestro, Mastercard, Solo,
Visa and VisaDebit. Call us on 01243 756689 to make your
payment.
- Cheque or postal order, made payable to West Sussex County
Council. Write your (the cardholder’s) name and date of birth on
the back of the cheque or Postal Order and send it to:
YourCard CitizenCard Scheme
West Sussex County Council
Customers and Communities
County Hall
West Street
Chichester
PO19 1RQ
You do not have to pay the £12 replacement fee if your card has
been stolen (for example, included in a bag or wallet that has been
stolen) and you have been given a Crime Reference Number by the
Police. If this is the case, contact us with your (the
cardholder’s) name, date of birth and Crime Reference Number, by
calling 01243 756689 or emailing info@yourspacewestsussex.co.uk
Your replacement card will be sent to your home address in 2-3
weeks from when we receive your payment or Crime Reference
Number.
Do I need to re-apply once my card has
expired?
Yes, if you are still eligible for the scheme you will
need to send a new application form and payment to receive a new
3in1 card. If possible, please send us your
application at least 6-8 weeks before your current
card is due to expire. Please do not attempt to
use your card to get reduced fares once it has expired,
if you do so your card may be confiscated by the bus
driver.
How can I find out more?
For more information on the 3in1 scheme plus news,
features, competitions and events for young people, please go
to Your
Space.
For information on bus fares, please check with your local
bus operator.
For bus timetables and to plan your bus journey
online, visit Traveline.
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