Free bus pass age change underway in June for state pensioners in England | Personal Finance | Finance

A new rule affecting free bus pass eligibility for state pensioners in England is underway in June following a law change that started in April.

The State Pension age in the UK is set in law and under the Pension Act 2014, it is legislated to rise from age 66 to 67 in phases over a two-year period between April 2026 and 2028. As the age increase is being implemented gradually, it means that people who have a 66th birthday within the transitionary period not only face a longer wait to become eligible to claim the State Pension, but those in England also face a delay as to when they can get a free bus pass. Eligibility for a free bus pass in England is linked to State Pension age, unless you live in London, in which case you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around the capital from age 60 and over.

The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed to The Express that eligibility for a free bus pass will change in line with the increase in State Pension age, which began on April 6, affecting anyone born on or after April 1960.

As the State Pension age increase is being done in phases, it means that those who were born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961, will qualify for a free bus pass at age 66 plus a specified number of months.

As such, some people will be closer to age 66 when they can get their free bus pass, while others will be only a month or two away from their 67th birthday by the time they become eligible. Anyone with a birthday after March 5, 1961, will be eligible for a free bus in England from age 67.

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 6 April 1960 and 5 March 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.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out the timetable for the gradual increase of the State Pension age to 67, with the process getting under way from April 6.

The timetable delays the point at which the State Pension can be claimed in one month increments, so pensioners with a 66th birthday this month that falls between June 6 and June 5 will have to wait an extra three months after their birthday until they can start getting payments. And the same applies for free bus pass eligibility if you live in England.

For example, if you were born on June 6, 1960, then you will become eligible to claim your State Pension, and your free bus pass in England, on September 6, 2026, when you are exactly 66 years and three months old.

The DWP has confirmed the following timetable for the increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67, which shows when people with birthdays between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961 can claim their State Pension, and in turn, their free bus pass in England:

The DWP said: “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 State Pension age is phased so that rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will reach their State Pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months.

” For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.”