Free bus pass age change in England from November 2026, Digi Mart USA News (England, United Kingdom): The Department for Transport has confirmed that another batch of passengers will be affected by a rise in the free bus pass age in November. Under the Labour Party government, the free bus pass age is rising to coincide with the increase in the state pension age.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state pension age is rising from 66 to 67 in stages, and the Department for Transport free bus pass age is following the same timetable. The DfT said eligibility for an older person’s bus pass under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is linked to State Pension age, so eligibility will change in line with the increase in State Pension age from April.
The DfT said 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. A tool on the GOV.UK website allows people to check the date they become eligible for a bus pass by entering their date of birth.
The DWP said the Pensions Act 2014 brought forward the increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years, meaning the age for men and women will increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028. The Government also changed the phasing so that, rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will reach it at 66 years and a specified number of months.
The DWP added that for people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, State Pension age was already 67 under the Pensions Act 2007.
The next batch of passengers affected are those with birthdays from November 6, 1960 to December 5, 1960, who will have to wait until 66 years and 8 months for their free bus passes. The following cohort, with birthdays from December 6, 1960 to January 5, 1961, will wait until 66 years and 9 months.
People with birthdays from January 6, 1961 to February 5, 1961 will wait until 66 years and 10 months, and those with birthdays from February 6, 1961 to March 5, 1961 will wait until 66 years and 11 months. The final cohort affected, with birthdays from March 6, 1961 to April 5, 1977, receives their free bus pass at 67 years.
