England raises free bus pass age to 67 as pension age rises

Millions of older people in England will have to wait longer to qualify for a free local bus pass after rules tying eligibility to the rising State Pension age formally took effect this month, the Department for Transport said. Under the change, people in England must reach age 67 to receive a concessionary bus pass, aligning pass entitlement with the State Pension age increase from 66 to 67 that is being rolled out by 2028.

The shift stems from the Pensions Act 2014, which accelerated the timetable for raising the State Pension age in response to changes in life expectancy. That law also set out a further increase to age 68 expected between 2044 and 2046. As a result of the current change, people born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977 will become eligible for both their State Pension and a free national concessionary bus pass at age 67.

Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, anyone who has reached State Pension age, or who qualifies because of disability, may travel free on local buses during offpeak hours from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. The Department for Transport confirmed the age change and said, "We fully...