State pensioners in England born between November 6, 1960, and December 5, 1960, will face an extra eight-month wait before they can claim a free bus pass, following a law change that takes effect from November 6.
Eligibility for a free bus pass is linked to State Pension age, which is rising from 66 to 67 in phases over a two-year period. The process began in April and is due to complete in 2028, affecting anyone born after April 6, 1960.
How the age rise affects eligibility
Older adults who have a 66th birthday within the two-year transitional period will not officially reach State Pension age until they are 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on when their birthday falls. This delay affects when people can claim their State Pension and also impacts eligibility for other State Pension age-related benefits, including a 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.
London options and government confirmation
If you live in a London borough, you can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard that allows free travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail lines in the capital. There is a £36 administration fee to set it up, plus an £18.50 annual address eligibility check fee for each year you have the photocard. Once you reach State Pension age, you can switch to the free Older Person’s Freedom Pass.
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, with the next phase underway from this month.
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.”
Full timetable for the increase
State Pension eligibility becomes further delayed the later in the year a 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time. Those turning 66 in the month from December 6 face an extra nine-month wait, and those turning 66 in the month from January 6 face an extra ten-month wait, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete. Anyone with a birthday after March 5, 1961, will be eligible for a free bus pass in England from age 67.
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 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 Government also changed the way the increase in State Pension age is phased so that, rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 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.
