Whilst known information will be published on the buses Temporary Change page, it is suggested that you contact the operator or visit their website or social media, before travelling.. Free bus pass applications and renewals To be eligible for the NEC, you must be: Aged 60 or older; A resident of Scotland; Disabled people eligibility. Our service is flexible to suit the different needs of everyone who takes part. Over-60s will continue to enjoy free bus travel in Scotland, allaying fears the age could be raised, transport secretary Michael Matheson announced today. WhatsApp. Currently they can travel on the London bus network for free at any time, but from Monday 15 June this will amended to bring it in line with the Older Person's Freedom Pass. With this pass, you can travel free on buses in Greater Manchester during off-peak hours and have the option to pay to add tram and train travel. Concessionary travel passes are also valid on some train services. Bus Passes . By then it will mean that three million people over 60 will no longer be eligible for a bus pass. If passengers have no option other than to use public transport during the morning peak period - such as those aged over 60 who are key workers - TfL recommends that they travel using pay as you go with a contactless card or mobile device, or an Oyster card. Registered charity number 1128267. You can also apply with a disability if you're under 60. Passes can be used from 9.30am onward and at any time during weekends and bank holidays. To change your card, you will need to apply for a new Concessionary Travel Card from Transport for Wales. Find out more about cookies. Apply for a concessionary travel pass (NoWcard) Bus service changes; Bus timetables; Bus information on your mobile; Bus lanes - pay or challenge your penalty notice; Plan your journey; Local bus tickets; Park and ride; DfT's 'A better deal for bus users' Report damage to a bus shelter; Ferry service between Knott End and Fleetwood; Pennine Reach The pass allows free travel on buses, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London. Thousands of people are having to re-apply for free bus passes as a result of a change in the running of the scheme. But even next year 92,000 people will be denied the bus pass they were expecting in a move. Passengers with a Disabled Freedom Pass are unaffected and will, as usual, still be able to travel at all times using their Pass if they have to use public transport for their journey. How to apply for a free travel bus pass or travel vouchers or renew your bus pass and check where you can use a free travel bus pass in Suffolk. Apply for a 60 & Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is a national scheme developed by the Department for Transport in conjunction with local authorities across England which allows cardholders to travel on buses across the UK for free after 09:30. by Calum Ross August 3, 2018, 6:04 am Concessionary Travel Scheme (Bus Pass) You'll be able to apply for your new-style Concessionary Travel Cards, which replaces your current bus pass, from Wednesday 11 September 2019. In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Essex County Council (ECC) extended the hours of operation for Essex bus passes to all day from the usual off-peak times to help people make use of early hours opening for high risk groups. The Government has changed the age at which people become eligible for a Concessionary Travel Pass. Here's how, thanks to our supporters, we're helping. Skip to main content; MENU . Free travel on local bus services in Wales for the over 60s or people with an eligible disability. To get an older person's bus pass you must be: aged 60+ resident in Scotland; You can also get a bus if you have a disability. You buy it for a one-off cost each year and it will allow you to … Contact your local council for more information about what they offer. TfL has today set out details of the temporary changes affecting users of the Older Person's Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photocard and English National Concessionary Scheme in London as part of the response to the pandemic. Twitter. I haven't got a Welsh Concessionary Travel Card and want to apply for one. Over 60s eligibility. One of the perks of getting older in the UK is the transport concessions you get, such as the free bus pass. Read More Related Articles. You can contact your local council to apply for a bus pass. The suspension will also affect bus travel. If you’re aged 16 to 21 and live in Wales you can apply for a MyTravelPass. change of name or address, please phone 0300 330 1201 (national rate - lines open from 9am to I haven't got a Welsh Concessionary Travel Card and want to apply for one. If using pay as you go with Oyster, customers can use the free TfL Oyster app to check their balance and top it up on the go to avoid having to visit an Oyster Ticket Stop or ticket machine. Pay for a replacement National Bus Pass. Bus companies operating in Surrey offer single and return journey tickets, including one and seven day tickets, one and three month tickets and yearly tickets. (Title Image: Wales Online) One of the Welsh Government’s most popular policies since the start of devolution is the introduction of free bus passes for the over-60s, later expanded to include reduced fares for young people. Apply for a 60 & Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card. The £10 fee can be paid over the phone with a debit or credit card by calling 023 9268 8575 between Monday and Friday, 9am-4pm (closed bank holidays). The funding package still requires TfL to “maintain, as a continuing response to the coronavirus pandemic, the current temporary changes to the use of concessionary fares for the over 60s and Freedom Pass holders during peak hours.” The Mayor was, though, successful in defeating the very worst Government proposals, including to remove altogether all concessions from Londoners which do not … Bus passes in Wales are available to people over 60 unlike in England where the age has risen with the state pension age. Over-60s lose out as free bus passes are cut back. These temporary arrangements will help reduce the risk of crowding at the busiest times, which would mean that social distancing would be more difficult to maintain. Tip Top Trips. If you inform another department of your change of address, this does not mean that we will be notified of this change. Use on trains. All Rights Reserved, Advice on caring for someone you don't live with, Advice on caring for someone you live with, Benefits and accessing cash - coronavirus advice, Four-tier coronavirus alert levels: Tier 1, 2, 3 and 4 rules explained, Housing rights advice during coronavirus pandemic, Shielding, social distancing and self-isolation. Under the current system, people aged 60 and over in Wales can travel for free on local buses with a concessionary bus pass. Transport for Wales now accepting re-applications for over 60s bus passes. Lost or faulty bus passes. You can order online from the Senior Railcard website using a valid passport or UK driving licence as ID, or you can also apply at most staffed railway stations. Get a free weekly friendship call. If you're applying for an older person's bus pass, choose 1 of the following: birth certificate (and marriage certificate if your name has changed) passport; driving licence For more information call the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602.We’re open 8am to 7pm, every day of the year. Pinterest. Company number 6825798. The old-style cards will not be recognised by electronic readers on buses after 31 December 2019. For example, National Express offers a Senior Coachcard for people who are 60 and over. Staff will be on hand to assist older Londoners making essential journeys who do not have access to contactless payment card or a smartphone. Your bus pass can be used throughout England on any local bus services (coaches will not accept bus passes however some companies may offer a discount, please check with your service provider). Free bus passes for over-60s have been spared the axe – and the scheme will now be extended to cover family members accompanying a disabled child. You get an older person’s bus pass when you’re 60. “These temporary changes to the Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card pass during morning peak travel will help reduce the risk of crowding when it would be more difficult to maintain social distancing.” The 60+ Oyster card is operated and funded by TfL which says it will contact all pass holders to inform them of the changes. Bus passes across Wales are being replaced with a new-style Transport for Wales branded concessionary travel card. How your donations helped older people this Christmas. Instead both men and women become eligible in line with the rise in the age at which women become eligible for a state pension. The temporary changes, to take effect from Monday 15 June, are being introduced as part of the recent funding and finance agreement with Government. People under 66 on certain social welfare payments are also entitled to free travel. Over 60’s bus pass; both are referred to as Concessionary Bus Passes. Our Benefits Calculator can help you, quickly and easily, to find out what you could be claiming. Essex Concessionary Bus Pass - Return to normal hours of use from Tuesday, 01 September 2020. Covid 19: Changes to services and help for businesses, individuals and communities. Given the national requirement to maintain two-metre social distancing, the capacity of buses and trains is hugely reduced. Anyone who needs to travel should do so outside of peak times if there is no option other than to use public transport. The Senior Railcard is an annual savings card. How to apply for a free travel bus pass or travel vouchers or renew your bus pass and check where you can use a free travel bus pass in Suffolk. If your circumstances have changed e.g. Do you know what benefits you are entitled to? Some 11 million people use them. In England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the female State Pension age, whether you’re a man or a woman. The former green passes can no longer be used, and you will now be expected to pay bus fares if you do not have a new Transport for Wales pass. 3. You do not need to renew your bus pass unless your circumstances have changed. The Freedom Pass website tells you all the documents you'll need to complete application. Bus services may be altered or reduced due to the Coronavirus situation. English National Conc… Benefits Calculator – what are you entitled to? If you're 60 or over and live in a London borough, you can get free travel on our transport services with an Oyster photocard. If you have lost your card, please explain to the driver that you have been unable to obtain a replacement card due to the closure of local authority offices and the card production bureau. Certain groups of pupils are entitled to a bus pass for home to school travel. If you need to travel, read the latest guidance to help keep everyone safe. You can check you eligibility on School Bus Passes. ", Chief Technology Officer at Transport for London, Temporary changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60-plus Oyster card, Plan a journey and favourite it for quick access in the future, Choose postcodes, stations and places for quick journey planning, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. © Age UK Group and/or its National Partners (Age NI, Age Scotland and Age Cymru) 2020. When you reach your 60th birthday you can apply for a Merseytravel Over 60s travel pass. The 60+ Oyster card is a lifeline for many over 60s, especially those on low-incomes, and this concession has been in place under successive Mayors. If you're applying for an older person's bus pass, choose 1 of the following: birth certificate (and marriage certificate if your name has changed) passport; driving licence 3. Passengers are being advised, where possible, not to travel immediately after 09:00 to help reduce potential crowding on buses and trains where effective capacity has been hugely reduced as a result of the requirement to observe two-metres social distancing wherever possible. For … One way tickets will be more expensive to purchase; if a disabled passenger uses the freedom pass in the morning and is unable to use it again in the late afternoon. TfL and London Councils will also be updating customers through websites, advertising and a public awareness campaign. More than three million older people will be forced to wait up to five years for their free bus pass after a 'sneaky' rule change. This means you could get about a third off the cost of bus travel. Passengers with an Older Person’s Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photocard or English National Concessionary Scheme pass will not be able to use those passes during peak morning hours. From Monday 15 June, changes to the ticketing system will mean these cards are automatically set to be not valid during the morning peak period (04:30 to 09:00) Monday to Friday. You will be sent a new pass about a week before the old one expires. Some older people can get free travel on local buses - contact your council to check your eligibility and apply for a bus pass Apply for an older person's bus pass - GOV.UK Skip to main content View comments. Changes are in accordance with the funding and finance agreement between TfL and Government and will help conserve space on public transport for people who have to use it to return to work, "These temporary changes to the Older Person's Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card pass during morning peak travel will help reduce the risk of crowding when it would be more difficult to maintain social distancing. If you're a resident in Scotland, aged five or over and meet one of the following criteria, you're entitled to free bus travel with the National Entitlement Card: Thousands of people are having to re-apply for free bus passes as a result of a change in the running of the scheme. Suffolk County Council Search: Search. Suspending the freedom pass during peak hours (before 9:30 am and between 4-7 pm) will invalidate the freedom pass. Use GOV.UK's State Pension calculator to find an exact date of when you can apply for your free bus pass, Get more information and check if you're eligible on the Freedom Pass website, If you're over 60 but not yet eligible for a Freedom pass, get a special Oyster card for free travel in London, How we're helping older people as lockdown lifts, Switched Off: Save free TV for older people. Greater Manchester is in National Lockdown. Bus passes across Wales are being replaced with a new-style Transport for Wales branded concessionary travel card. Bus pass (over 60's or disabled) Bus pass (over 60's or disabled) **Changes to concessionary travel cards** You will need to change your old-style card to the new-style between September and 31 December 2019. In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Essex County Council (ECC) extended the hours of operation for Essex bus passes to all day from the usual off-peak times to help people make use of early hours opening for high risk groups. We'll match you with one of our volunteers. At the close of what's been, for many, a terrifying and isolating year, older people are facing a Christmas like no other in living memory. 1. To be eligible for the NEC, you must be: Aged 60 or older; A resident of Scotland; Disabled people eligibility. From Monday 15 June, these cards will not valid during the morning peak period - 4.30am to 9am, Monday to Friday. Your local council deals with bus pass applications. Bus pass for disabled people. Rules for bus passes are changing in Wales - and they will no longer automatically be issued when you turn 60. Railcard for disabled people. If you qualify for a state pension, you could be eligible for a pass that gives you free travel in Greater Manchester and the rest of England under … ', For more information - please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/fares. Some bus companies offer group and family tickets. Tickets may be able to be used on services from more than one operator. The free bus pass has turned out to be rather expensive. 'These temporary changes to the Older Person's Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card pass during morning peak travel will help reduce the risk of crowding when it would be more difficult to maintain social distancing. Changes to bus passes. By Joe Robinson @joerob_leader Reporter. The change will come in to effect from Wednesday and … It costs £12.50 and offers a third off your travel throughout the year. If you have a faulty bus pass, or have lost your bus pass, please contact us on 01324 506070 to arrange a replacement. Apply for a Welsh Concessionary Travel Card Proof of eligibility For older person's bus passes. Some 11 million people use them. Free weekend bus travel in Wales could be extended Railcard for over 60s. TfL will be directly contacting all 60+ Oyster card holders to inform them of these temporary changes. You can unsubscribe at any time. Bus pass for over 60s. https://www.express.co.uk/.../1292916/free-bus-pass-rules-change-limited Age UK, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA. The main national public transport concessions available to older people are: Free older person's bus pass means you can travel free on local buses in England. We use cookies to improve your experience. Free weekend bus travel in Wales could be extended Read More Related Articles. Find out about changes to bus passes due to COVID-19 by visiting National Entitlement Card COVID-19 FAQs on the Improvement Service website. Lost passes will be cancelled and therefore cannot be used if found at a later date. “These temporary changes to the Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card pass during morning peak travel will help reduce the risk of crowding when it would be more difficult to maintain social distancing.” The 60+ Oyster card is operated and funded by TfL which says it will contact all pass holders to inform them of the changes. The Welsh Government is set to tighten the rules around who is entitled to free bus passes. Travel passes. Some local authorities offer concessions that apply to local public transport. Given the national requirement to maintain two-metre social distancing, the capacity of buses and trains is hugely reduced. From 11 September 2019 all bus passes will be produced by Transport for Wales. A table of these changes in the first year is printed below as a guide. Facebook. - by Owen Donovan - 3 Comments. Tickets may be able to be used on services from more than one operator. Find out more Doing buses differently. What people need to do: If you already have a CT pass: This will not affect you in any way. You can find out when you reach your State Pension Age on the Government website. This is rising on a sliding scale, from 60 to 65, between 2010 and 2020. All passengers using these cards are also being asked to avoid peak times where possible ahead of the system changes taking place on Monday 15 June. The changes, announced by the Department for Transport, mean that over the next 10 years the age at which people are entitled to their free bus pass will gradually rise from 60 to 65. Some bus companies offer group and family tickets. They will continue to be valid at all other times on weekdays and all day on weekends and Bank Holidays. Only those with the new-style Concessionary Travel Passes issued by Transport for Wales will be entitled to use and receive the benefits of Concessionary Travel Passes. Once we have received payment the replacement bus pass will be posted to you within 10 working days. Contact your local authority for more information on how to apply. Plans to the increase the eligibility age for the concessionary bus pass will not be implemented until April 2022, the Welsh Government has confirmed. What transport concessions could I get as an older person? One of the Welsh Government’s most popular policies since the start of devolution is the introduction of free bus passes for the over-60s, later expanded to include reduced fares for young people. To find out whether you are eligible for a pass, and for details of how to apply, follow the links below. People no longer receive a free bus pass when they reach their 60th birthday. Everyone aged 66 and over living permanently in Ireland is entitled to travel free of charge on public transport. The National Bus Pass is available to older people or those with certain disabilities. TfL is also working with London Councils, which administers the Freedom Pass scheme, to inform Freedom Pass holders about the change. By Daily Mail Reporter Updated: 18:19 EST, 29 March 2009 . Women's Concessionary Travel Scheme. Red Rover Tickets. Travel pass for older people. By taking steps to minimise non-essential travel by others, TfL is making it easier for those key workers, including for those over 60, to access public transport for essential journeys. Essex Concessionary Bus Pass - Return to normal hours of use from Tuesday, 01 September 2020. If you inform another department of your change of address, this does not mean that we will be notified of this change. If you live in England or Wales In England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the female State Pension age, whether you’re a man or a woman. Apply for a Welsh Concessionary Travel Card All current bus passes (green 60 or Over and Disables Person’s) will expire on 31 December 2019. Pupils; Concessionary Passes for Over 60's and Disabled Pass Holders . Bus passes in Wales are available to people over 60 unlike in England where the age has risen with the state pension age. Apply if you’re in: Scotland; Northern Ireland People aged 60 can currently claim a free bus pass The age people become eligible for free bus passes in Wales is to rise from 60 to the state pension age, … Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at Transport for London said: 'We are working hard to ensure that those who have no option other than to travel using public transport can do so safely. Over 60s eligibility. Bus tickets, passes and travel discounts. Currently, more than 1.3 million over-60s and disabled people benefit from the free bus pass, accounting for about 145 million journeys each year, or a third of all those made in Scotland. Bus companies operating in Surrey offer single and return journey tickets, including one and seven day tickets, one and three month tickets and yearly tickets. If you live in the Torfaen or Blaenau Gwent County Borough areas and are aged 60 years or over; then you are automatically entitled to a bus pass. Once you reach State Pension Age you will be given your English National Concessionary Travel Pass which also allows you to travel on local bus services anywhere in England. Merseytravel Over 60s pass- on local buses within the Merseyside boundary, on the Merseyrail network (City, Wirral and Northern lines within Merseyside and as far as Chester, Ellesmere Port and Ormskirk) and on the Mersey Ferries for single river crossings (not River Explorer or Special Cruises). Reader’s letter: ‘Reinstate free bus passes for over 60s’ November 28, 2017. This is consistent with advice from the Government and Mayor that everyone should continue to work from home where possible, walk or cycle if they need to travel and avoid public transport. Apply (external link) Concessionary Travel Cards (Transport for Wales) If you live in the Wrexham County Borough area and are: Aged 60 years or over; or Home > Residents > Parking, roads and travel > Travel passes. They will mean that all passengers with an Older Person's Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photocard or English National Concessionary Scheme pass will not be able to use those passes during morning peak hours in order to help support social distancing on the public transport network and help control the coronavirus. Proof of eligibility For older person's bus passes. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Find out more about free travel in Ireland and the Senior SmartPass which allows you to travel for free on public transport in Northern Ireland. This rises on a sliding scale, from 60 to 66, between 2010 and 2020. Free bus passes for the over-60s were promised by Gordon Brown before the 2005 election and introduced in 2007. Bus tickets, passes and travel discounts. From 11 September 2019 Cardholders need to apply for their new-style card before the expiry date. Free to call 8am – 7pm 365 days a yearFind out more. The age at which people become eligible for a Metro Gold Card will change in line with that for a bus pass. Youth discounted bus travel. When will my pass be valid? September 20, 2019. ... Register a change of address on a bus pass… How to get help with urgent or one-off expenses, Transport concessions for disabled people, What standards you should expect from NHS services, Getting active when you find exercise difficult, Getting active but not sure where to start, What to do when the weather's particularly bad, Financial and legal tips before remarrying, Homecare: How to find the care you need at home, Help for carers looking after a loved one, What to do when your caring role changes or ends, How to complain about care to your local council, EU citizens and settled status after Brexit, Making and amending your will to include a gift to Age UK, The difference a gift in your will could make, Charity triathlon events and obstacle courses. These cards will replace the current green 'bus passes' across Wales. The National Bus Pass entitles the pass holder to free off peak travel on local buses anywhere in England.