Disabled people across England will be able to travel on buses for free at any time of day from 1 April 2027, following a rule change announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The move removes time restrictions on concessionary bus passes, extending the benefit to all hours, and is part of a wider cost of living initiative that also includes a £2 cap on bus fares.
What the change means for disabled passengers
Currently, disabled bus passes outside London are only valid for travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, unless local authorities choose to fund an extension. For example, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority permanently removed these time restrictions in March of this year. The new national policy will ensure that all eligible disabled pass holders can travel for free 24/7, improving access to workplaces, education, training, and other opportunities, while easing financial pressures.
Bus passes are administered at the local level by each travel authority, according to the Express. Londoners with a Disabled Person's Freedom Pass already enjoy free travel on TfL services at any time of day, but the change will bring the rest of England in line with this standard.
Prime Minister and Transport Secretary respond
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated: "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." He added: "I did it before in Greater Manchester and I'm proud to do it now for the whole country. This is part of our ongoing action to bring back hope and give people some much needed breathing space on the cost of living."
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented: "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." She continued: "We are making this change because we've listened to disabled people, and we know the importance of buses to local communities. These passes are a lifeline for so many, helping them stay connected and get to work and appointments, and it's only right they receive the same treatment, no matter their postcode."
Eligibility criteria for disabled bus passes
The rules for free bus passes differ from area to area, so the conditions covered may vary depending on where you live. In London, to qualify for a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass, at least one of the following must apply: you are blind or partially sighted; you are profoundly or severely deaf; you have no speech; you have a disability or injury that has left you with a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk; you do not have arms or have long-term loss of use of both arms; you have a learning disability defined as 'a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning'; or you would be refused a driver's licence under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 due to physical fitness, other than on grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
The change is expected to benefit thousands of disabled people across England, providing greater independence and reducing travel costs. Local authorities will need to update their pass systems to accommodate the new 24/7 validity from April 2027.
