Free bus travel for disabled people in England: What’s changing next April
Key Points
- Disabled bus pass holders in England will travel free on local buses at any time of day from 1 April 2027.
- Passes currently work only between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays unless a local authority pays to extend them.
- The change costs £60 million, split between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport.
- Eligibility does not change — the seven statutory categories in the Transport Act 2000 still apply, and councils still assess applications.
- It follows the £2 fare cap for 2027 and free travel for under-16s this month.
Disabled bus pass holders across England will travel free at any time of day from 1 April 2027, after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Tuesday (18 August) that the government will lift time restrictions on concessionary passes.
Disabled passes currently only work between 09h30 and 23h00 on weekdays, and passengers who need an earlier bus pay the full fare.
Some local authorities already fund an extension out of their own budgets – Greater Manchester Combined Authority removed the restrictions permanently in March – which leaves what a pass covers dependent on where the holder lives.
The government will now remove the restrictions across England, backed by £60 million made up of £40 million from the Department for Work and Pensions and £20 million from the Department for Transport.
“Buses are a lifeline for so many people – making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare. It’s simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we’re fixing that. Disabled people will now have unlimited free bus travel 24/7,” said Andy Burnham, Prime Minister.
“We’re putting an end to this postcode lottery, so disabled people can travel on buses for free whenever they need, wherever they live – unlocking opportunities and access to jobs, learning, and more,” said Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary.
The change sits alongside a £3.5 billion package of tailored employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions.
“For too long, disabled people have held a free bus pass in their pocket that didn’t always get them to work. Now we’re changing that. By removing these time restrictions, we’re helping disabled people access jobs, training, and other opportunities at any time of the day,” said Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary.
“Disabled people don’t live off-peak lives. Lifting these restrictions nationwide replaces an arbitrary postcode lottery with genuine freedom, independence and dignity,” said Lydia Horbury, CEO of Bus Users UK.
Who qualifies for a pass
Eligibility stays as it is and is based on The Transport Act 2000 which sets out statutory categories:
- People who are blind or partially sighted
- Profoundly or severely deaf
- Without speech
- Unable or virtually unable to walk because of a disability
- Without arms or unable to use both arms
- People with a learning disability
- People who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds, other than for drug or alcohol misuse.
Local authorities administer the scheme and assess applications against those criteria, so applications still go through the council.
Fares will stay capped at £2 through 2027, and under-16s travel free on local buses this month.
The Bus Services Act also hands local leaders more control over the services running in their areas.
