A law change affecting free bus pass eligibility for state pensioners in England is underway this month, following the phased increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67. The age rise began on April 6 this year and is being implemented over a two-year period due to complete in 2028, directly affecting anyone born after April 6, 1960.
Because eligibility for a free bus pass in England is linked to State Pension age, people turning 66 during the transitionary period now face a longer wait before they can claim their State Pension and, in turn, their free bus pass. The next phase of the change affects anyone born between November 6, 1960, and December 5, 1960.
Eight-Month Wait for Eligible Pensioners
According to the DWP timetable, pensioners due to turn 66 between these dates face an extra eight-month wait before they can claim their State Pension and their free bus pass in England. For example, someone born on November 6, 1960, will become eligible to claim both their State Pension and free bus pass on July 6, 2026, when they are exactly 66 years and eight months old.
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed to The Express that eligibility for a free bus pass is changing in line with the State Pension age increase. 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.”
How the Phased Increase Works
State Pension eligibility becomes further delayed the later in the year a person's 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time. Those turning 66 in the month from December 6 face an extra nine-month wait, while those turning 66 in the month from January 6, 2027, face an extra ten-month wait, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete.
As a result, 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.
London Options and Official Guidance
In London, residents can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, which allows free travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail lines in the capital. Applicants must live in a London borough and pay a £36 administration fee to set it up, plus an £18.50 annual address eligibility check fee for each year the photocard is held to keep it active. Once they reach State Pension age, they can switch to the free Older Person’s Freedom Pass.
The DfT spokesperson added: “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.”
Full DWP Timetable for State Pension Age Increase
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
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 DWP added: "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 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67."
