Are you entitled to a free bus pass?

Who is eligible?

Everyone who is eligible according to the guidelines set by the Department for Transport and Department for Work and Pensions is entitled to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England using a National Bus Pass.  Anyone who has reached the pensionable age of women is eligible, whether you are male or female.  It’s easy to apply and it’s free! 

Check and apply on the Oxfordshire County Council website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/bus-passes

There are passes for older persons, disabled persons and a disabled persons companion.

All passes give you free travel on all our buses except before 09.00 Monday to Friday.

The rules in West Berkshire and Reading Borough are different: bus passes can only be used when boarding at stops in those areas after 09.30 on Monday to Friday.  Please see their respective websites to find out how to apply.

You can get an older person's pass once you reach the female state pension age (even if you're male!).

This keeps changing.  If you were born up to 5th June 1954 - you can apply from 6th January 2020: the following table shows when you can apply if you were born after that.

What are the benefits?

For you:  free travel on most bus services throughout the country, including Going Forward Buses, but not before 09.30 Mondays to Fridays (any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays).  Some local authorities are more generous, for example in Oxfordshire (including all stops on the 134 route) passes can be used after 09.00 on Mondays to Fridays.

For us:  the Council reimburses us for every concessionary pass journey made - at the same rate no matter how long or short the trip is!  So please don't be afraid to use your passes and remember that every trip, even the shortest (one stop!), helps to keep the service going.