Older people in England are being warned over changes to free bus pass rules as the qualifying age continues to rise. The age at which people can claim an older person's bus pass in England is linked to the State Pension age, which is now gradually increasing from 66 to 67. That means thousands of people approaching retirement will have to wait longer than their 66th birthday before they can get free bus travel.
Phased changes by date of birth
The changes are being phased in according to date of birth, with another group affected from September as the State Pension age steadily climbs. Under the official timetable, people born between April 6 and May 5, 1960 reach State Pension age at 66 years and one month, while those born a month later must wait until they are 66 years and two months.
The qualifying age then rises by another month for each subsequent group. People born between August 6 and September 5, 1960 will not reach State Pension age until they are 66 years and five months. The increases will continue until the State Pension age reaches 67.
Who is affected
Anyone born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977 is currently due to reach State Pension age on their 67th birthday. The change has implications beyond retirement income because the eligibility age for an older person's bus pass in England is tied to State Pension age.
The Government's online State Pension age checker specifically tells people both when they will reach State Pension age and when they will qualify for free bus travel. Older person's concessionary passes generally provide free off-peak travel on local buses throughout England, although councils can provide additional concessions in their own areas.
Different rules elsewhere
The rules are different elsewhere in the UK and in London, where separate concessionary travel schemes operate. The State Pension age increase from 66 to 67 was brought forward by the Pensions Act 2014 and is being phased in between 2026 and 2028.
A further increase to 68 is currently legislated to take place between 2044 and 2046, although the State Pension age is subject to regular Government reviews. People approaching retirement can check exactly when they will become eligible by entering their date of birth into the Government's State Pension age calculator. The calculator also provides the date at which someone can claim Pension Credit and qualify for free bus travel.
