The age at which people become eligible for a free bus pass in England will rise this September in line with changes to the State Pension age. This adjustment follows the Pensions Act 2014, which accelerated the increase of the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.
Under revised regulations, individuals born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 will now become eligible to claim the State Pension once they turn 67. Consequently, the eligibility age for concessionary bus passes, which is linked to the State Pension age, will also increase accordingly.
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport (DfT) emphasised the importance of bus passes for older people, stating: “We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel.”
The DfT is actively working on significant reforms aimed at enhancing bus services for all passengers, focusing on improving reliability and affordability in local areas.
Regarding the changes, the DfT spokesperson explained: “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.”
They further clarified that individuals born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will qualify for a bus pass at age 66 plus a certain number of months, depending on their exact birth date.
For those unsure when they become eligible, a tool is available to check the date: Check your State Pension age - GOV.UK, by entering their date of birth.