Government of SP publishes decree that suspends free public transport for people over 60 to 65 years in SP | Saint Paul

The new rule goes into effect as of January 1, 2021. The rate will remain free for people over 65, a benefit guaranteed by federal law that established the Statute of the Elderly. Cards for people who do not turn 65 before February 1, 2021 will be canceled.

According to the decree, the Single Special Ticket for the Elderly can be obtained by registering in SPTrans, by users 65 years of age or older, who have proven their residence in the municipalities that make up the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo.

Seniors 60 years and over and under 65 must provide the replacement of the Special Single Ticket for Seniors before February 1, 2021.

Users who reach the minimum age of 65 years before February 1, 2021 will keep the benefit without having to replace the card.

In a note, the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection said it regrets the hasty enactment of the law that extinguished the gratuity in the São Paulo bus system for seniors between 60 and 65 years old.

To suspend free public transportation for the elderly, Covas repealed a 2013 law that guaranteed exemption from paying the fare on urban bus lines to people over 60 years of age. The repeal of Law 15,912 was published in the Official Gazette of the municipality this Wednesday.

This Wednesday, Doria revoked a 2014 decree that would regulate the gratuity of these people in other means of transport, such as Metro, CPTM trains and intercity buses (EMTU), in Greater São Paulo.

In a note, the Government of São Paulo and the Municipality of São Paulo admitted that “they will adopt new measures for the granting of gratuity in the public transport system as of January 1, 2021” and said that the change in the benefits policy in the transport of the elderly “it accompanies the gradual revision of the policies directed to this population”.

“In order to comply with the Statute of the Third Age, free tickets will be maintained for municipal and intercity buses (EMTU), Metro and CPTM for people over 65 years of age. The change in gratuity accompanies the gradual review of the policies aimed at this population, such as the extension of mandatory retirement in public service, which went from 70 to 75 years, the institution in the Statute of the Elderly of a category special for older adults, over 80 years old. years, and the recent Social Security Reform, which in addition to extending the contribution period, set a minimum retirement age of 65 years for men and 62 years for women, ”the joint note states.

For Idec, which defends consumer rights, the measure is harmful because it represents “an attack on the rights of users” and discourages the use of public transport.

“In addition, the economy will be insignificant, since most of the elderly use the RG to access buses and stay before the turnstile and in a few months the São Paulo bus system will start paying concessionaires at cost, not by passenger”. transported, further reducing the impact of tips for seniors. In other words, the measure will not have a significant impact on the subsidy, but it will profoundly impact the lives of vulnerable older people in the city, ”says Idec.

SP budget bill reduces funding for senior funds

Some municipal funds, such as funds for the elderly, social development and housing, have had a reduction in the annual budget of the municipality. OR Municipal Fund for the Elderly will cut 91% in resources compared to 2020, going from a budget of R $ 2.7 billion this year to R $ 253.6 million next year.