I remember a woman I know said that the £10 way back actually paid a week's rent for her mum and got Xmas dinner.
Here in N.I. they did a consultation over free bus passes, disabled also get half price bus fares here. You have to apply for the pass and get a doctor's signature on the forum. The free pass you get at 60 you can travel all over N.I., once you hit 65 you get to travel all over the Republic as well and can even use the Dublin city bus service free. Oh, and this includes free rail travel. We get to keep them.