EXCLUSIVE: Free travel for older people in England will be hit by a law change.
Eligibility for a free bus pass in England is linked to State Pension age (Image: Getty)
The next free bus pass age increase for older people in England has been confirmed following a law change.
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In England, eligibility for a free bus pass is linked to State Pension age, and as the UK State Pension age is currently in the process of rising from 66 to 67, the qualifying age for free bus travel is also increasing. The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed to The Express that free bus pass eligibility is changing in line with the State Pension age increase, which affects anyone born from April 6, 1960, onwards. But the exact impact of this change depends on when your birthday falls.
The first phase of the State Pension age increase began earlier this year, on April 6, the start of the new tax year, but the age rise to 67 is being implemented in phases, with the process not due to complete until 2028. As such, older adults who have a 66th birthday within this two-year transitional period will not officially reach State Pension age until they are 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on their birth date.
This delay not only affects when people become eligible to claim their State Pension, but it also impacts eligibility for other State Pension age-related benefits, too – including a free bus pass in England.
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The law change means you’ll now need to be 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on your birth date, before you become entitled to your free pass.
Eligibility becomes further delayed the later your 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time, meaning some people will only be a month or two away from turning 67 by the time they can get their free bus pass.
A DfT spokesperson told The Express: “Eligibility for an older person’s bus pass under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is linked to State Pension age. This means eligibility will change in line with the increase in State Pension age from April.
“People born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will qualify at 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on their date of birth.
“There is a tool to check the date people become eligible for a bus pass at Check your State Pension age – GOV.UK, by entering their date of birth.”
So far, six phases of the DWP timetable for the State Pension age increase (and, in turn, free bus pass eligibility) have now fully completed, and the seventh phase, affecting those born between October 6, 1960 and November 5, 1960, is currently underway. As such, there are still another six phases to go until the age increase from 66 to 67 is complete.
The DWP has confirmed the following State Pension age increases by birth date, which will see people born within these dates become eligible for both their State Pension and free bus pass at age 66 plus a specified number of months:
- October 6, 1960 – November 5, 1960: 66 years and 7 months
- November 6, 1960 – December 5, 1960: 66 years and 8 months
- December 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961: 66 years and 9 months
- January 6, 1961 – February 5, 1961: 66 years and 10 months
- February 6, 1961 – March 5, 1961: 66 years and 11 months
- March 6, 1961 – April 5, 1977: 67 years
If you live in a London borough, you can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard that allows you to travel free on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail lines in the capital.
You’ll need to pay a £36 administration fee to set it up, plus an £18.50 annual address eligibility check fee for each year you have your photocard to keep it active, but once you reach State Pension age, you can then switch to the free Older Person’s Freedom Pass.