Important changes in eligibility for English National Concessionary Travel Pass

The government has announced plans to change the age of eligibility for concessionary bus travel in line with the changes that are being made to the state pension age from April 2010. For the purposes of concessionary travel this means tying the age of eligibility for the bus pass to the pensionable age for women. So, as the pensionable age for women gradually increases from 60 to 65 over the ten year period from 2010 to 2020 so too will the age of eligibility for the concessionary bus pass increase for both men and women.

Currently both men and women become eligible for a free bus pass at 60. These plans mean that by 2020 the age of eligibility will increase to 65. Until pensionable age is equalised between the sexes in 2020, men will continue to become eligible for a concessionary bus pass when they reach the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.

The changes to the age of eligibility will not impact on anyone already in possession of a bus pass. The changes will only affect those due to turn 60 on or after 6 April 2010 and will bring eligibility for the national bus concession into line with changes to other entitlements that have already been announced by the Department for Work and Pensions, such as the change in the age of eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance.

There are no changes to eligibility for applicants with a qualifying disability.

Your eligibility can be checked against the online State Pension Age Checker provided by the Department of Work and Pensions by entering your Date of Birth..