26/08/2026
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Time limits on disabled bus passes to be scrapped — but not until 2027
Disabled bus pass holders in England will eventually be able to travel free at any time of day, following a government announcement that it will remove the time restrictions currently attached to concessionary passes.
At the moment, a disabled person’s bus pass only guarantees free travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, unless the local authority has chosen to fund an extension (Greater Manchester already scrapped its restrictions back in March). From 1 April 2027, that patchwork will end everywhere in England, and pass holders will be able to travel free around the clock, seven days a week, wherever they live.
No new money and a while to wait
It’s worth being clear about the timeline: this isn’t a change taking effect now, or even this year. It’s over a year and a half away. The £60 million behind it is also being found from existing Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport budgets: £40 million and £20 million respectively, rather than new money, so it’s a reallocation rather than extra spending.
The government has pitched the move as part of a wider push on the cost of living, and also links it explicitly to its welfare reform agenda — the idea being that better transport access removes a practical barrier to disabled people taking up work.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“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.”
Access to transport supports choice and opportunities
Mencap’s chief executive, Jon Sparkes, welcomed the change, highlighting a move away from assumptions about what disabled people can and should do with their time:
“This is welcome relief for disabled people struggling with the cost of living as well as the extra costs of being disabled. Most importantly though it removes the inference that disabled people can’t or shouldn’t work. Disabled people should have the same opportunities as anyone else to work or contribute to society in some other way and this will help level that playing field.”
Bus Users UK campaign for equal access to travel
Lydia Horbury, chief executive of Bus Users UK, said:
“Bus Users UK has been at the forefront of campaigning for reform because equal access to opportunity requires equal access to travel. We also recognised that the case for change would be stronger if organisations campaigning for accessible transport spoke together, which is why we established the Accessible Transport Alliance to coordinate our efforts and give disabled passengers a stronger collective voice.
“The benefits of removing the restriction go well beyond the bus pass itself. It can help more disabled people access employment and education, reduce isolation, support health and wellbeing, encourage greater use of public transport and help employers access a wider pool of talent.
“The job now is to make sure the reform delivers what passengers need: clear information, consistent implementation and a concessionary scheme designed around people’s actual lives. Accessible transport isn’t about giving people special treatment; it’s about removing the barriers that prevent people from living, working and participating on equal terms.”
Who is eligible for a disabled person’s bus pass?
Eligibility for a disabled person’s bus pass is set out in the Transport Act 2000, which covers seven statutory categories. You may qualify if you 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
• a person with a learning disability
• someone who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds (excluding refusal due to drug or alcohol misuse)
Local authorities administer the scheme and assess applications against these criteria, so if you think you might be eligible and don’t already hold a pass, your council is the place to start.
The wider picture on bus travel
This news sits alongside two other bus-related announcements: the £2 fare cap running through 2027, and free travel for under-16s on local buses this summer. The government is also giving local leaders more control over bus services through the Bus Services Act.
