FREE NATIONWIDE BUS TRAVEL FOR THE OLDER AND DISABLED PERSON

As of the 6 April 2010, Runnymede residents who meet the criteria or have certain qualifying disabilities can apply for a concessionary bus permit. Please read the important changes below for further information. The new arrangement funded by Runnymede Borough Council means that you can travel from 9.00am until 11pm on weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays. Disabled person's permit can be used at any times during the day.

In order to take advantage of the free travel you will require a permit issued by the Council. There are four types of permits, namely;

1. Older Person - Please see calculation table.

2. Older Person Companion - for residents who require assistance when travelling (the companion also travels free of charge).

3. Disabled - for residents who are severely sight impaired (blind or partially sighted), profoundly or severely deaf, without speech, suffering from a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to walk, without the use of both arms, with a learning disability or otherwise likely to be refused a driving licence on medical grounds. Please see Eligibility Criteria.

4. Disabled Companion - for residents in one of the above categories who require assistance when travelling (the companion travels free of charge).

All applications must be accompanied by documentary proof of your address and either age (older person permits), medical condition (disabled persons permits) or the need for assistance when travelling (companion permits). Where possible, particularly for postal applications, these should be photocopies rather than originals. A printable version of all application forms can be found below.

Application Form

Replacement Form

Physical or Sensory Impairment Form

Learning Disability Form

Mental Health Form

IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR NEW BUS PASS APPLICATIONS FROM APRIL 2010

Following changes made by the Department of Transport as from 6th April 2010 the age of eligibility for concessionary bus travel will be in line with the changes that are being made to the state pension age.
For the purposes of concessionary travel this means tying the age of eligibility for the bus pass to the pensionable age for women. So, as the pensionable age for women gradually increases from 60 to 65 over the ten-year period from 2010 to 2020 so too will the age of eligibility for the concessionary bus pass increase for both men and women.

The changes to the age of eligibility will not impact on anyone already in possession of a bus pass. The changes will only affect those due to turn 60 on or after 6 April 2010 and will bring eligibility for the national bus concession into line with changes to other entitlements that have already been announced by the Department for Work and Pensions, such as the change in the age of eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance.

The purpose of the concession is to provide greater freedom and independence to older people in their retirement. People are living longer, staying healthy longer, and tending to stay in work later in life and older people of working age are active, able people who are fundamentally no different from the rest of the working age population. With the difference in state pension age for men and women set to disappear between 2010 and 2020, this change re-establishes the link with pension age for concessionary travel and removes the anomalous position of working age citizens receiving free bus passes. This will assist in securing the long term financial sustainability of the scheme.

People in the 60-64 age group with severe mobility problems may be eligible for a disabled concessionary bus pass, if they meet one or more of the categories of disabled person identified as eligible for concessionary travel in the Transport Act 2000 and the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

You can also use the State Pension age calculator to work out your State Pension age on www.direct.gov.uk/spacalculator

Further information and advice on eligibility can be obtained by telephoning 01932 425865 or email buspass@runnymede.gov.uk

The Council may be statutorily required to supply information you provide, to other bodies exercising functions of a public nature, for the prevention and detection of fraud. For further information please see www.runnymede.gov.uk/datamatching.