England delays free senior bus passes as state pension age rises to 67
The English free older-person bus pass will be postponed for many because the state pension age is being lifted from 66 to 67, while the devolved nations keep a 60-year eligibility rule.
Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, a free older-person bus pass is awarded once a person reaches state pension age. A phased increase that started on 6 April 2026 raises that age from 66 to 67, meaning anyone born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will become eligible several months later than before. Consequently, many will face a longer wait for free local-bus travel, whereas residents of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland continue to receive a pass at age 60 provided they meet residency requirements.
A Department for Transport spokesperson explained that eligibility follows the pension-age timetable and directed people to the “Check your State Pension age” tool on GOV.UK. The piece also notes a scheduled rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 and mentions Labour Party leader Andy Burnham’s proposal to replace the “triple lock” with a “double lock” that would delink pension growth from wages. The broader context includes one outlet triple-lock mechanism that raises the pension by the highest of wage growth, inflation or 2.5 %.
Why it matters
The change affects when millions of seniors can access free public transport, impacting mobility and household budgets.
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