A change to free bus pass eligibility is coming into effect in August as part of the ongoing increase to the State Pension age from 66 to 67, a policy now overseen by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The State Pension age rise began on April 6 and is being phased in gradually through monthly changes until the process is complete in 2028. The increase affects anyone born after April 6, 1960, forcing them to wait longer to claim the State Pension. But it also impacts eligibility for a free bus pass for some pensioners.
In England, a free bus pass is linked to State Pension age unless you live in London, where free travel on buses, trains and other transport is available from age 60. Outside the capital, you must wait until you are 66 and a specified number of months have passed before you can get your free bus pass.
Next phase begins this month
The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that eligibility for a free bus pass is changing in line with the increase in State Pension age. The next phase of the age increase begins this month, affecting anyone born between August 6, 1960, and September 5, 1960.
According to the DWP timetable, pensioners due to turn 66 between these dates face an extra five-month wait before they can claim their State Pension and, in turn, their free bus pass. For example, if you were born on August 6, 1960, the age increase means you will become eligible to claim both your State Pension and free bus pass on January 6, 2027, when you are exactly 66 years and five 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.”
Wait grows month by month
State Pension eligibility becomes further delayed the later in the year your 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time. Those turning 66 in the month from September 6 face an extra six-month wait, while those turning 66 in the month from November 6 face an extra seven-month wait, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete.
As such, some people will be closer to age 66 when they can 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 pass in England from age 67.
Full DWP timetable
The DWP has confirmed the following timetable for the increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67, showing 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
In explaining the change, 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 April 5, 1969 but before April 6, 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.
