Patrick Christys and panel discuss plans to bring forward a rise in state pension age
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Millions of people in England will have to wait longer than expected to claim their free bus pass, following a confirmed rise in the eligibility age from next month.
The change is a direct consequence of the State Pension age increasing from 66 to 67, a shift being phased in between 2026 and 2028.
The Department for Transport has confirmed that entitlement to a concessionary bus pass under the English system is tied to the State Pension age.
Anyone born from 6 April 1960 onwards will be affected, with those approaching their 66th birthday now facing additional months of waiting before they qualify, depending on their exact date of birth.
Five groups of passengers will be directly affected from November.
They include:
- People born between November 6, 1960 – December 5, 1960, who will receive their state pension and their free bus pass age at 66 years and 8 months.
- People born between December 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961 will receive theirs at 66 years and 9 months.
- People born between January 6, 1961 – February 5, 1961 birthdays qualify upon 66 years and 10 months.
- People born between February 6, 1961 – March 5, 1961, which will receive theirs at 66 years and 11 months.
- People born between March 6, 1961 – April 5, 1977, who will be 67 by the time they qualify.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “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 April 6, 1960 and March 5, 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 rollout is being implemented in stages and will be fully completed by 2028, when the pension age reaches 67.
Residents of London, however, have a way around the national rules. By applying for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, they can access complimentary travel across the capital from the age of 60.
The picture is also different in the devolved nations. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, free bus pass eligibility operates entirely independently of the State Pension age.
Residents in those parts of the UK automatically qualify for a free regional bus pass when they reach 60, regardless of any changes to pension age thresholds.
The contrast means that where someone lives within the UK can significantly affect when they gain access to free public transport.
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