The free bus pass age is set to increase in July 2026 as part of a pre-planned state pension age hike by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Under the Labour Party government, the DWP is gradually raising the state pension age from 66 to 67 over the next two years, meaning people will have to wait longer before receiving payments. Crucially, this also delays eligibility for the free bus pass, as the Department for Transport aligns the bus pass age with the state pension threshold.
Phased increase over three tax years
The increase is being phased in over three tax years, until April 2028, for those born between April 1960 and March 1961. Some state pensioners will receive their money at age 66 and 1 month, in one-month increments, up to those who will get theirs at age 66 and 11 months, and then to those who will not receive theirs until age 67. The Government states: "The Pensions Act 2014 brought the increase in the state pension age from 66 to 67 forward by eight years. The state pension age for men and women will now increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028. The Government also changed the way in which the increase in the state pension is phased."
Detailed timetable for state pension age rise
Rather than reaching state pension age on a specific date, people born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will reach their state pension age at 66 years and a specified number of months. The timetable is as follows:
- Born April 6, 1960 – May 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 1 month
- Born May 6, 1960 – June 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 2 months
- Born June 6, 1960 – July 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 3 months
- Born July 6, 1960 – August 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 4 months
- Born August 6, 1960 – September 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 5 months
- Born September 6, 1960 – October 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 6 months
- Born October 6, 1960 – November 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 7 months
- Born November 6, 1960 – December 5, 1960: State Pension age 66 years and 8 months
- Born December 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961: State Pension age 66 years and 9 months
- Born January 6, 1961 – February 5, 1961: State Pension age 66 years and 10 months
- Born February 6, 1961 – March 5, 1961: State Pension age 66 years and 11 months
- Born March 6, 1961 – April 5, 1977: State Pension age 67
Impact on bus pass eligibility
As a result, individuals born after April 5, 1960 will have to wait additional months before qualifying for a free bus pass. The change affects those who would have previously received their bus pass at age 66. The DWP's gradual increase means that some people will not receive their state pension until age 67, directly delaying their bus pass entitlement.
