Bus pass applications - apply for an older person's or disabled person's bus pass

Apply for a disabled person's bus pass

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How to apply

Please note: we can only accept online applications for specific disability categories and not for companion passes.

Apply online for a bus pass

Continue your existing bus pass application

Apply by post

Download the application form, to apply by post.

Once complete, please post the form to us, along with copies of the appropriate documents proving disability as detailed below to the following address:
Central Bedfordshire Bus Pass Applications
PO Box 212
Waterlooville
PO7 6ZN

What you need to know

Disability categories available

We can only accept online applications for the following categories at the moment:

  • blind or partially sighted (category A)
  • profoundly or severely deaf (category B)
  • being without speech - this doesn't include those whose speech may be difficult to understand or who have language difficulties (category C)
  • walking impairment, due to having a disability, or having suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk (category D)
  • no arms, also the long-term loss of the use of both arms (category E)
  • learning disability that is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind, which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning, which must have started before adulthood (category F)
  • physically unfit to drive - if you applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have an application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol (category G)

Companion bus passes (category H)

We offer a companion pass (category H) for people who need to be accompanied whilst travelling. Applications for a companion pass can't be made unless you qualify under one of the above categories of disability. Applications for a companion pass alone will be rejected. 

Companion bus pass applications cannot be made using the online service. Please apply by post, including copies of your eligibility evidence.

Download the application form, to apply by post.

Once complete, please post the form to us, along with copies of the appropriate documents proving disability as detailed below to the following address:
Central Bedfordshire Bus Pass Applications
PO Box 212
Waterlooville
PO7 6ZN

Automatic eligibility

You are automatically eligible for a bus pass if you can prove (with an award letter or exemption certificate) that you:

  • are in receipt of Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA)
  • have received a score of 8 points or more under PIP activity 12 (Moving Around)
  • have received a score of 8 points or more under PIP activity 7 (Communicating Verbally)
  • are in receipt of War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS)

Blue badges

You are also automatically eligible if you have been issued with a disabled person’s parking badge (Blue Badge.)

Bus passes will be issued for the current period of validity of your eligibility evidence plus 2 months to allow you to get updated evidence for submission.

Age limits and proof of age

All disabled adults, children and young people of fare-paying age are eligible to apply for a concessionary pass. A child of fare-paying age is usually defined as those between the ages of 5 to 16. Under this age, a child would normally travel free on most bus services and as such, a disabled concessionary pass would not be issued. At pensionable age or above, a disabled customer should apply for a standard age-related bus pass unless a companion pass is required.

If you're an older person with a disability, but don't yet qualify for an age-related bus pass

When you apply for your disabled bus pass, it's a good idea to give us proof of age, at the same time.

For example, this could be a copy of your:

  • passport
  • birth certificate
  • driving licence

This isn't compulsory, but it will allow us to convert your bus pass automatically when you're eligible for an age-related pass. Otherwise, you'll have to re-apply and supply proof of age, anyway.

Proof of eligibility

In all cases more details may be requested. It is your responsibility to provide proof of eligible disability; the authority will not contact your medical specialist to obtain information on your behalf. You are responsible for any charge incurred in obtaining appropriate medical evidence.

In all cases, we do not accept letters from GPs as proof of eligibility for any new application or renewal of a disabled bus pass. This is in line with Department for Transport guidance.

The following are acceptable:

Category A - People who are severely sight impaired, or sight impaired

You will need a certificate of vision impairment signed by a consultant ophthalmologist (eye specialist), a letter from an optometrist confirming the limit of your vision or proof that you are registered with our sensory impairment team.

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Category B - People who are profoundly or severely deaf

You will need a letter or audiological report from a hospital audiologist, aural specialist or audiology department, indicating hearing loss between 70 and 95 decibels, or proof that you are registered with our sensory impairment team.

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Category C - Without speech (this does not include those whose speech may be difficult to understand or who have language difficulties)

You will need proof of Personal Independent Payments (PIP) – a full award letter indicating you have been awarded at least 8 points for ‘communicating verbally’ activity (the award must be for a minimum of 12 months) or a letter from a medical specialist.

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Category D - People who have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk

You will need one of the following:

  • an award letter for Disability Living Allowance for Higher Rate Mobility Component (award must be for a minimum of 12 months)
  • a disabled person’s parking badge – also known as a ‘Blue Badge’
  • proof of War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (award must be for a minimum of 12 months)
  • proof of Personal Independent Payments (PIP) – a full award letter indicating you have been awarded at least 8 points for ‘moving around’ activity (the award must be for a minimum of 12 months)
  • a letter from a medical specialist confirming level of walking ability and that the applicant has a long-term impairment

You must demonstrate that your reduction in walking ability is long-term and substantially impaired and not the result of a temporary injury such as a leg in plaster. In all cases, entitlement depends on the applicant's difficulty in walking and other considerations such as difficulty in carrying shopping will not be taken into account.

If you apply under this category, you may be asked for continued proof of eligibility at the end of the initial period of validity of your pass.

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Category E - People who do not have arms or have long-term loss of use of both arms

You will need a letter from an NHS artificial limb unit or a medical specialist which confirms that you do not have arms or are unable to use your arms to carry out day-to-day tasks.

Category F - People who have a learning disability that is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning – must have started before adulthood

You will need one of the following:

  • a full award letter of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independent Payments (PIP) or a Blue Badge (award must be for a minimum of 12 months)
  • proof of registration with social services or letter from your social worker/support worker detailing your disability
  • if not on our register, a letter from a medical specialist confirming level of learning disability, difficulty in learning new skills and indicating how your disability affects your ability to travel
  • for children / young adults who are in education – a current Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) or a letter from the head teacher / principal of the educational establishment confirming attendance, detailing your disability and eligibility for a bus pass as defined in the DfT guidance

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Category G - People who if they applied for a licence to drive a motor vehicle under part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol

This is applicable if you would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds (other than for the persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol) under Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It should be noted that specific reference is made to people who persistently misuse drugs or alcohol. Under government law, those people are not covered by the definition of 'disabled person' and are thus not entitled to any travel concession.

This category could apply to conditions such as:

  • uncontrolled epilepsy
  • severe mental disorder
  • liable to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting
  • inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with glasses, if worn)
  • other disabilities which are likely to cause the driving of vehicles by them to be a source of danger to the public

If you apply on this basis, we need one of the following:

  • full award letter of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independent Payments (PIP) or Blue Badge (award must be for a minimum of 12 months)
  • a letter from the DVLA indicating refusal of a driving licence for a minimum of 12 months
  • a letter from a medical specialist detailing your disability and confirming a driving licence would be refused as defined within the criteria
  • if you have epilepsy, a letter from a medical specialist detailing your disability, when your last epileptic seizure was and confirming driving licence would be refused as defined within the criteria

Your pass will only be issued for the current period that your driving licence is suspended and we will ask for continued proof of eligibility at the end of this period.

.If you apply under this category, you may be asked for continued proof of eligibility at the end of the initial period of validity of your pass.

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Category H (companion pass) – People who are so severely impaired that they can only travel on local bus services if accompanied by a companion

Category H (a ‘companion pass’) is a ‘local concession’ ie it is not a compulsory part of the national bus pass scheme and is a concession that is offered by Central Bedfordshire Council for the benefit of its residents. It is only available for journeys commencing within Central Bedfordshire and there is no obligation under the national scheme for other local authority areas to reciprocate this benefit, although some areas do have similar schemes in operation.

Applications for a companion pass cannot be made without also qualifying under another one of the categories of disability. An application for a companion pass alone will be automatically rejected.

Applications for this category must be accompanied by a letter from a medical specialist indicating which other category your disability falls under, specifically detailing why you need a companion pass, giving a clear demonstration of your additional needs.

A disabled child between the ages of 5 and 16 would only be eligible for a companion pass if evidence from a medical specialist demonstrates that their disability requires it and not if they need to be accompanied due to being too young to travel alone.

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