MILLIONS of pensioners in England will have to wait another year before receiving their free bus pass.
This comes despite calls to lower the free bus pass age to 60 – as it is in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The increase of the State Pension age from 66 to 67 will affect eligibility for free bus passes[/caption]
From April next year, state pensioners in England will need to wait an extra year to qualify for a free bus pass, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed.
Currently, people in England who live outside London only qualify for free off-peak bus travel once they reach state pension age, which is 66.
London pensioners already enjoy free travel on buses, the Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services with an Oyster photocard.
Pension age is rising
However, the State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 – a change planned across the UK by 2028 for both men and women.
This will also affect eligibility for free bus passes.
These adjustments have been in the works since 2014, legislated under the Pensions Act 2014.
Previously, the age rose from 65 to 66 under the Pensions Act 2011, which also equalised the age for both sexes.
Between 2044 and 2046, the pension age will rise from 67 to 68.
Bus passes affected
The DfT has confirmed that concessionary bus passes will be affected by the change.
A spokesperson said: “We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel.
“We’re already in the process of making ambitious reforms to improve bus services for all passengers and supporting local areas to improve reliability and affordability.”
What is the State Pension and why does it keep going up?
THE State Pension is a monthly payment from the government to people who have reached the qualifying age and paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions.
Each individual’s payment depends on their NI record.
The full rate of the new State Pension is £230.25 a week.
For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they may also have workplace pensions, earnings and savings.
State Pension ages are rising in many developed countries.
The main reason is simple: people are living longer, which means pensions are being paid for longer – a growing cost for governments and taxpayers.
Demand for fairer travel passes for England’s over-60s has been growing.
A petition was organised
A now-closed petition calling for the ENCTS to be expanded nationally to include all over-60s in England – not just those in London – has now surpassed 101,200 signatures.
It reads: “We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60.
“Currently, people in England who do not live in London are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach the state pension age, which we believe has changed dramatically.
“As people get older some over 60s drive less and less, therefore we believe we need equality on public transport.
“It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
The government issued a formal response to the petition in February.
It states: “The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) costs around £700 million annually.
“Any changes to the statutory obligations must be carefully considered for their impact on its financial sustainability.”
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood also explained that local councils in England have the power to offer local concessions, including lowering the age of eligibility – a revelation that gave fresh energy to campaigners.
Pensioners in England will have to wait another year before receiving a free bus pass[/caption]