Free bus move age to will increase in England from April as one age misses out
The qualifying age for a free bus pass in England will rise by 12 months from April 2026 as the state pension age increases from 66 to 67
Free bus pass qualification age will be raised for all pensioners from April 2026(Image: Getty Images)
The Department for Transport has confirmed that from April, residents in England will be forced to wait an extra year before getting their hands on a free bus pass. Despite a major campaign demanding the same concessionary travel rights enjoyed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – where free bus travel kicks in at 60 – England only provides complimentary journeys from age 66, matching the state pension age.
This rule stands unless local councils, including those in London and Merseyside, decide to foot the bill themselves. From next year, the qualifying age for a free pass in England will climb by another 12 months.
This shift aligns with the planned hike in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, due to be fully rolled out across the UK by 2028 for both men and women, reports the Mirror.
The tweak to the official retirement age has been on the cards since 2014, with a further jump from 67 to 68 anticipated between 2044 and 2046.
The Pensions Act 2014 accelerated the rise in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.
The UK Government also modified the timing of the State Pension age hike, meaning that instead of reaching State Pension age on a particular date, people born between 6th March 1961 and 5th April 1977 will be eligible to claim the State Pension when they hit 67 – and the same will apply to their concessionary bus passes. The Department for Transport (DfT) has acknowledged that concessionary bus passes will be impacted by the changes.
A spokesperson declared: “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.”
Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, qualifying disabled individuals and those who’ve hit state pension age (under the Pension Act 2014) can enjoy complimentary off-peak bus journeys between 9.30am and 11.00pm on weekdays, plus all-day travel at weekends and Bank Holidays.
State Pension age is due to climb from 66 to 67 during 2026 to 2028, as outlined in the State Pension Act 2014.
The DfT explained: “Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by lowering the age of eligibility. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.”
Eligibility for free bus travel in England kicks in when people reach state pension age – presently 66 but poised to increase from next year.
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