Free bus pass change coming in August under Andy Burnham | Personal Finance | Finance
Free bus pass eligibility in England is linked to State Pension age (Image: Getty)
A major change to free bus travel for state pensioners in England is coming into effect in August under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The change comes as part of the ongoing increase to the State Pension age in the UK, which is rising from 66 to 67. The age rise began earlier this year, on April 6, and is being phased in gradually through monthly changes until the process is complete in 2028. The change affects anyone born after April 6, 1960, forcing them to wait longer to claim the State Pension. But State Pension eligibility isn’t the only thing affected by the age increase, as it also impacts eligibility for a free bus pass for some pensioners.
In England, a free bus pass 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.
But if you live outside the capital and have a 66th birthday approaching, you’ll have to wait until you are 66 and a specified number of months have passed before you can get your free bus pass.
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed to the Express that eligibility for a free bus pass is changing in line with the increase in State Pension age, with the next phase of the age increase beginning this month, affecting anyone born between August 6, 1960, and September 5, 1960.
The new Prime Minister inherits the State Pension age policy change already set in motion by his predecessor, which he will now oversee until its completion in 2028.
According to the DWP timetable, pensioners due to turn 66 between these dates face an extra five-month wait before they can claim their State Pension, and in turn, their free bus pass.
For example, if you were born on August 6, 1960, the age increase means you will become eligible to claim both your State Pension and free bus pass on January 6, 2027, when you are exactly 66 years and five months old.
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.”
State Pension eligibility becomes further delayed the later in the year your 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time.
It means those turning 66 in the month from September 6 face an extra six-month wait, while those turning 66 in the month from November 6 face an extra seven -month wait, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete.
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.
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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:
May 6, 1960 – June 5, 1960: 66 years and 2 months
June 6, 1960 – July 5, 1960: 66 years and 3 months
July 6, 1960 – August 5, 1960: 66 years and 4 months
August 6, 1960 – September 5, 1960: 66 years and 5 months
September 6, 1960 – October 5, 1960: 66 years and 6 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
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.”
