The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that the qualifying age for free bus passes in England will rise from 66 to 67, with the first cohort affected from September 6. Under the changes, people born between September 6, 1960 and October 5, 1960 will have to wait until they are 66 years and 6 months old before they can claim both their State Pension and free bus pass.
Eligibility changes linked to State Pension age
The DfT announced that from April, eligibility for the older person's bus pass under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme will change in line with the increase in State Pension age. This follows the timetable set out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the State Pension age rise.
People born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will qualify at 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on their exact date of birth. The changes stem from the Pensions Act 2014, which accelerated the State Pension age increase from 66 to 67.
DfT statement on bus pass importance
A spokesperson for the DfT said: "We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel." They added: "We're already in the process of making ambitious reforms to improve bus services for all passengers and supporting local areas to improve reliability and affordability."
The spokesperson continued: "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."
How to check your eligibility date
The DfT has pointed to a tool on the GOV.UK website, "Check your State Pension age", where people can enter their date of birth to find out when they become eligible for a bus pass. The change affects only England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate under different regulations, with free local bus passes remaining accessible to all residents aged 60 and over.
