EXCLUSIVE: A law change will affect free travel for older people.
Free bus pass eligibility is linked to State Pension age in England (Image: Getty)
Free bus pass eligibility for state pensioners across England will be hit with a new rule in October following a law change.
The State Pension age in the UK is currently rising from 66 to 67, with the change implemented in phases over a two-year period that began on April 6. The age increase is due to be completed in 2028, with the gradual implementation affecting anyone born after April 6, 1960. Older adults who have a 66th birthday within the transitional period will not officially reach State Pension age until they are 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on when their birthday falls. This delay not only affects when people become eligible to claim their State Pension, but it also impacts eligibility for other State Pension age-related benefits too – including a free bus pass in England.
As such, the age change delays the point at which older adults can claim their free bus pass, as the law means you’ll now need to be 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on your birth date, before you become entitled to your free pass.
If you live in a London borough, you can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard that allows you to travel free on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail lines in the capital. You’ll need to pay a £36 administration fee to set it up, plus an £18.50 annual address eligibility check fee for each year you have your photocard to keep it active, but once you reach State Pension age, you can then switch to the free Older Person’s Freedom Pass.
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed to The Express that eligibility for a free bus pass is changing in line with the State Pension age increase, with the next phase now underway this month, affecting anyone born between October 6, 1960, and November 5, 1960.
According to the DWP timetable, pensioners due to turn 66 between these dates face an extra seven-month wait before they can claim their State Pension, and in turn, their free bus pass.
For example, if you were born on October 6, 1960, the age increase means you will become eligible to claim both your State Pension and free bus pass on May 6, 2026, when you are exactly 66 years and seven 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 November 6 face an extra eight-month wait, while those turning 66 in the month from December 6 face an extra nine-month wait, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete.
It means that some older people will be closer to age 66 when they 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.
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:
- April 6,1960 – May 5, 1960: 66 years and 1 month
- 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.”