The Government has confirmed that from April 1, 2027, disabled bus pass holders in England will be able to travel for free at any time of day, following a rule change announced by Andy Burnham on Tuesday. The move lifts time restrictions on concessionary passes for disabled people, aiming to improve access to work, education, and training, and to ease cost-of-living pressures.
What the rule change means
Currently, disabled bus passes are only valid between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, unless local authorities fund an extension. The Government is removing these restrictions across England, so that from next year, disabled pass holders can travel for free regardless of their postcode.
Mr Burnham said: "Buses are a lifeline for so many people - making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare. It’s simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we’re fixing that. Disabled people will now have unlimited free bus travel 24/7."
Funding and eligibility
The £60 million funding for the scheme comes from existing Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Transport (DfT) budgets, with £40 million from DWP and £20 million from DfT.
Eligibility is set out in the Transport Act 2000, which defines seven statutory categories of disability. These include people who are: blind or partially sighted; profoundly or severely deaf; without speech; unable or virtually unable to walk because of a disability; without arms or unable to use both arms; people with a learning disability; and people who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds (other than because of drug or alcohol misuse). Local authorities are responsible for administering the scheme and assessing applications against these criteria.
Reaction to the change
Several charities and transport groups have welcomed the rule change. Lydia Horbury, CEO of Bus Users UK, said: "Disabled people don’t live off-peak lives. Lifting these restrictions nationwide replaces an arbitrary postcode lottery with genuine freedom, independence and dignity. It will help more disabled people access work, reduce isolation, support bus use and reduce unnecessary car dependency. This is about much more than a bus pass. It is about removing a barrier to opportunity and making our transport network work for everyone."
