Free bus passes for disabled children

  • Gov Leglislation
  • Author:Department for Transport
  • Published:April 2018
  • Country: United Kingdom

Free bus passes for disabled children Government changes legislation to protect the free bus travel scheme.

Disabled people in England will continue to benefit from free off-peak bus travel for the foreseeable future, keeping them connected with their local towns and cities.

Bus passengers with a disability have been entitled to travel free of charge on any off-peak local service in England since 2007, thanks to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

The government has now amended legislation to protect the scheme in its current format so that it can continue for years to come.

Apply for a disabled person’s bus pass

Contact your local council to find out who issues disabled bus passes in your area as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme. You’re eligible for a disabled person’s pass if you live in England and are ‘eligible disabled’. You can check your local council here.

What you need to know

Available in England only

Get more information about a disabled person’s bus pass in:

What do I need when applying

You will be required to provide a photograph, taken within the last 12 months, it should be passport size, taken in colour.

You will need to be eligible, below is a list of Lincolnshire County Councils eligible requirements.

  • Blind or partially sighted people
  • Deaf people
  • People without speech
  • People with ‘substantial and long-term walking difficulties’
  • People with no arms or loss of use of both arms
  • People with a Learning Disability causing significant impairment of intelligence or social functioning

Each LA might require different evidence of residency and identity, however, as a guide, you might be asked for:
Mandatory Proof of Identity

  • Passport
  • Driving Licence
  • Armed Forces or Police ID
  • Proof of State Benefit or Pension

Mandatory proof of residency

  • Utility bill
  • Current Local Council Tax Bill
  • Bank Statement
  • Medical Letter
  • Doctor’s Repeat Prescription

You will be asked about the disability, for example, People with a Learning Disability causing significant impairment of intelligence or social functioning will need to provide
“Learning disability that has started before adulthood. Higher rate DLA or PIP at 8 points or more in the Communicating Verbally activity. Letter from your consultant, social worker or
headteacher confirming that your learning disability meets the eligibility criteria.”

You can find the news article here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-bus-passes-for-older-and-disabled-people-protected-for-the-future and the official Government website here https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass/.

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