Bus passes for older or disabled people

To be eligible for an older person's bus pass, you can obtain one for free if you meet the following conditions:

• Are a Nottingham City resident
• Have reached the state pension age. Currently 66 years old. 
  • Check when you qualify with the pension age calculator on GOV.UK. - Check your State Pension age - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• You can apply for your bus pass up to 6 weeks before you reach pension age, but you will not receive it until you have reached the eligible age.

To qualify for a disabled person's bus pass, you must either:

• Be sight impaired or severely sight impaired
• Be severely deaf (minimum hearing loss if it reaches 70 dB HL)
• Be without speech in any language 
• Have a disability, or an injury, which has long term effect on the ability to walk 
• Not have arms or have long term loss of the use of both arms
• Have a learning disability, which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• Be prevented from being granted a motor vehicle licence under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1998, section 92 (other than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol)

If you meet one or more of these, you can either apply online or visit the Travel Centre in person.

Bus Pass Eligibility Full Criteria

Accelerate your bus pass by applying online, which eliminates the need for photocopying documents and ensures immediate processing of your application.

During the online application, you will be required to upload:

1. A photo of yourself - A digital photo is necessary for the application. Ideally, a passport-style photo should be used, although it is not mandatory. Be aware that your bus pass may be revoked if the photo does not resemble you.

2. Proof of address - Please provide a copy of one of the following documents:

- Driving licence
- Utility bill from the past year
- Bank or credit card statement from the past year
- Council Tax bill from the past year.

It is imperative to notify us of any changes to your address.

Failure to inform us at least six weeks prior to your pass's expiration could result in it being dispatched to an old address, incurring a £10 replacement charge. Note that updating your address with another department does not automatically update your details with us.

3. Personal Identification
Additionally, you must provide a copy of one of the following:

- Birth certificate (and marriage certificate if your name has changed)
- Passport
- Driving licence (if not already used as proof of address)
- A letter from the pension service confirming eligibility for the state pension.

The same document cannot serve as proof of both address and eligibility. Two distinct supporting documents are required for a complete application.

For disabled person's bus passes, all submitted documents should be recent (within the last 12 months) or indicate the expected duration of your condition, or that no improvement is anticipated.

To apply, you must also provide a copy of your proof of disability, based on your disability: (such as)

• Eye test records or letter from eye specialist.
• a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) letter with 8 points in the moving around or verbal communication sections
• Blue Badge 
• Hearing test records or letter from Audiologists showing hearing loss has reached 70 to 95 dB HL
• A letter from a specialist doctor, independent health professional or registered medical practitioner confirming that you have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk, speak, learn, understand, use of arms, Learning difficulties or other conditions
• A War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
• A letter from the DVLA indicating refusal or withdrawal of your licence for a minimum of 12 months

A braille sticker to help identify your concessionary bus pass is now available. We are in the process of posting a sticker to cardholders who have a visual impairment. If you need a braille sticker and haven't received one by 17 March 2023, please contact the Smart Ticketing Team on tel. 0115 876 2700.

Apply in person

You can apply in person at the Travel Centre.

You will need to take with you:

• Proof of your address (e.g. a bank statement, utility bill, Council Tax bill (dated within the last 3 months), television licence)
• Proof of your age (e.g. passport, letter of pension entitlement, medical card, birth certificate, driving licence)
• If you’re on the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, you will need to bring a copy of this with you too
• You will also need to know your National Insurance number as this is required on the application form

Whilst you’re there, your photograph will be taken for your new card and once your application has been processed, your pass will be posted to your home address. 

Application Form

• Download the application form in advance -  Application form

This form is a writable PDF and can therefore be completed on a computer without having to print out the form and write the information by hand.

If you believe that you are eligible to apply for a disabled person's bus pass, you may be asked to attend a medical assessment to ensure you meet the criteria for the bus pass.

An appointment will be offered within 2 weeks with the whole process taking no longer than 4 weeks.

You’ll need to take with you any medical evidence to support your application.

You do not need to attend a medical assessment and will be automatically eligible if 

• You’re on the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• Receive 8 or more points under moving around or communicating verbally of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• You are in receipt of War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• You are registered with the local authority as blind, partially-sighted, or profoundly or severely deaf

What happens next

Following your appointment, if you’re assessed as being eligible, your pass will be posted to you within 10 working days.

If you do not meet the criteria, we will write to you and let you know.

If you didn’t supply the required information for the application, we'll write to you and you'll have more time to supply the information.