Free bus pass in England concessions update as DfT confirms age change | Personal Finance | Finance
A fresh campaign has been launched to secure complimentary bus travel for all carers across the nation.
Concessionary bus passes are currently facing mounting pressure – the Department for Transport confirmed last month that everyone in England will need to wait an additional year from 2026 to receive them as the qualifying age rises alongside the state pension to those over 66.
Existing regulations for carers in the UK permit them to travel without charge, or at a discounted rate, when accompanying the person they support – however this varies depending on their location and the local council.
A fresh petition on the Parliament website is demanding this be rolled out nationwide to assist those who provide care for others.
The petition established by Nazreen Bibi states: “Amend the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, Transport Act 2000 and relevant legislation, and fund mandatory free bus passes for all carers of disabled people. There are disabled people who cannot travel without their carers and we think carers should be able to travel with them for free.”, reports Chronicle Live.
“Some disabled people who rely on carers are currently paying for their carer’s bus fare which means that their travel is not wholly free. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is meant to help eligible elderly and disabled people to travel for free by bus. In our view, disabled people who rely on carers are not travelling for free if they have to pay for their carers. We want carers of disabled people who have a bus pass for free travel, to have free carer bus passes too.”
If the petition garners 10,000 signatures, it will receive a response from the Department for Transport, and if it reaches 100,000 signatures, it could trigger a debate in Parliament.
Earlier this year, Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed called on the UK Government to consider offering unpaid carers free travel on public transport to ‘improve access to essential services and promote inclusivity for disabled people and those with chronic illnesses’. The Sheffield Central MP also queried whether the Department for Transport would “make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing carers to accompany those they care for to travel free of charge on public transport”.
In a written reply to both questions on Monday, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood outlined how the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) “provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of State Pension age (66)”.
Mr Lightwood added: “The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the eligibility criteria, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
“An assessment has not been made of the potential impact of free travel for carers, however, local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as offering companion passes for those travelling with someone eligible for the ENCTS.”
The Department for Transport has confirmed that from April next year, individuals in England will be forced to wait an extra year to claim their complimentary bus pass.
Despite a substantial campaign pushing for identical concessionary travel perks as those enjoyed in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – where complimentary bus journeys are accessible from age 60 – in England, free transport is only provided from age 66, matching the state pension age.
Nevertheless, local councils, including those in London and Merseyside, can opt to finance the provision themselves.
From next year, the waiting time for a complimentary pass in England will stretch by a further 12 months.
This modification corresponds with the proposed rise in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, scheduled to be completely rolled out across the UK by 2028 for both men and women.
This adjustment to the official retirement age has been arranged since 2014, with an additional increase from 67 to 68 anticipated between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 fast-tracked the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.
The UK Government also tweaked the phasing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that instead of reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 will be eligible to claim the State Pension once they turn 67 – and the same will apply to their concessionary bus passes.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has admitted that these changes will affect concessionary bus passes. A spokesperson stated: “We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel. 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.”
To view and back the petition click here.