Cover Feature | Later Life Planning

for a deputyship could severely damage or even destroy the business you worked so hard to build.

By having both a personal and a business LPA, you can appoint different people to manage each area, ensuring that those with the right expertise and experience are making decisions that align with your wishes. This strategic approach provides peace of mind, safeguarding both your private wealth and the future of your company.

Statistics say that you are six times more likely to use an LPA before a Will.

“One of the most important pieces of advice for anyone with a relative who may at some point need care is to encourage your relative to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney.”

Care To Be Different www.assured-wills.co.uk

What does Martin Lewis say about lasting power of attorney?

Crucially, Martin emphasised that LPAs are not just for older people. He believes that Powers of Attorney are arguably more important than Wills. This is because they make considerations for what happens during your lifetime.

Transport in later life

Later life planning is often spoken about in terms of pensions, savings, or passing on a business, but transport is just as important to independence and wellbeing. For people in Kent and across the South East, the simple act of boarding a bus can be the difference between staying connected and becoming isolated.

Research carried out earlier this year across the South East found that more than three quarters of older people still visit their local high street at least once a week. These trips are about more than shopping. They are a chance to meet friends, to feel part of the community and to keep up with everyday routines. The same research showed that six in 10 say their local bus service is vital in helping them stay socially connected. Yet despite this, more than a quarter of those eligible for free bus travel are not using their pass.

That free pass is not a minor perk. Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, anyone who has reached the State Pension age of 66 is entitled to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England. Off-peak travel is defined as from 9.30am until 11pm on weekdays, and all day at weekends and on public holidays. Applying is straightforward through local councils, including Kent County Council, or directly via the GOV.UK website.

The difference the pass can make to household budgets is significant. The annual cost of running a car, once you add together insurance, MOT, tax, servicing and fuel, often runs into thousands of pounds. For those on fixed retirement incomes, that is a heavy burden. By contrast, with a concessionary bus pass, everyday journeys to the shops, to see family, to attend healthcare appointments or to enjoy a day by the coast with Stagecoach South East can be made at no cost.

Stagecoach South East operates more than 400 buses across Kent and East Sussex, connecting towns such as Canterbury, Ashford, Hastings and Dover, as well as the coastal routes that link Eastbourne to Dover. These services are not simply about getting from one place to another. They are the threads that tie communities together and make sure that people remain active and independent as they age.

For those thinking about retirement and succession planning, the bus pass is an often overlooked but powerful tool. It helps older people continue to play a full role in family and community life, stretching their pension savings and reducing the pressure of car costs. Families benefit too, knowing that parents and grandparents have reliable, safe and affordable transport options, and that the high streets they visit remain vibrant.

With an ageing population and the challenge of isolation growing, the message is clear. The concessionary bus pass is more than a ticket to travel. It is a lifeline that keeps older people mobile, socially connected and financially resilient, while supporting the businesses and services that make Kent’s towns and villages thrive. www.stagecoachbus.com

How to apply for your free bus pass

• Available from State Pension age (currently 66)

• Where to apply: gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass or via your local council (Kent County Council)

• When you can travel: 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays, all day at weekends and on public holidays

• Annual cost of bus travel with concessionary pass: £0 for all eligible off-peak journeys

• 28 per cent of those eligible still do not use their free pass – meaning many are missing out on both savings and social benefits