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Currently, only people over the State Pension age are eligible for an older person’s bus pass in England(Image: inyourArea)<\/p>\nTransport Minister Simon Lightwood has said that local councils in England “do have the power” to lower the age threshold for the older persons’ bus passCurrently, only people over the State Pension age are eligible for an older person’s bus pass in England(Image: inyourArea)<\/p>\n
Local councils in England “do have the power” to lower the age threshold for the older persons’ bus pass, the UK Government has confirmed. But lowering the age would “need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.”<\/p>\n
Surrey Heath representative MP Dr Al Pinkerton had queried whether an evaluation had been conducted on the “potential merits of extending free bus pass eligibility to people aged over 60,” in a written response, the Daily Record<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n Given that concessionary travel falls under devolved jurisdiction, the qualifying age for complimentary bus journeys varies across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While Scots aged 60-plus enjoy this benefit, those residing in England typically receive it upon reaching State Pension age.<\/p>\n However, in the written response, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, explained that \u201clocal authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, such as lowering the age<\/a> of eligibility\u201d.<\/p>\n Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n It comes after a petition online calling for bus passengers in England to be given the same financial benefits<\/a> as those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland received more than 100,000 signatures.<\/p>\n Mr Lightwood said: \u201cThe English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ENCTS costs around \u00a3700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme\u2019s financial sustainability.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources.\u201d<\/p>\n He also said that the UK Government has confirmed \u00a3955 million for the 2025\/26 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London.<\/p>\n This includes \u00a3243m for bus operators and \u00a3712m allocated to local authorities across the country.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cFunding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish. This could include extending the discretionary concessions available.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 101,200 people signed the online petition<\/a> supporting calls for changes to be made to the ENCTS and bring it into line with the same service provided by the Scottish Government.<\/p>\n