Overview
- The Department for Transport confirmed late May that eligibility for the Older Person’s free bus pass in England is tied to each person’s State Pension age rather than a fixed calendar age.
- That link means people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will reach bus‑pass eligibility at 66 plus extra months staggered between 6 May 2026 and 5 March 2028, and people born on or after 6 March 1961 will reach eligibility at 67 from 6 April 2026.
- Local authorities issue and administer passes, so practical details — including when you can travel and how to apply — vary by area; for example, Transport for the West Midlands sets specific hours and Birmingham passes are issued by TfWM, not the city council.
- London and Wales remain exceptions because devolved rules grant free travel from age 60 in those areas, and The Pension Service will send invitations to apply for state pension about four months before an individual reaches their State Pension age.
- Practical next steps for affected people are to use the GOV.UK State Pension age checker to find their exact date and then apply to their local council up to the timeframe the council allows, because the change will extend waits for free bus travel for many between 2026 and 2028.