Torbay Council

English National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme

The current Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme was introduced on the 1 April 2008.All persons who are eligible through age or disability and are in possession of an English National pass can now access local bus travel (not National Express) free of charge, anywhere in England between the hours of 0930-2300 Monday to Friday, and at any time at weekends or on Bank Holidays.

Who can apply for an English National Concessionary Bus Pass in Torbay?

You must be a permanent resident of Torbay (if you are unsure, check which authority collects your council tax ). You must also be eligible on grounds of age or disability.

Older Person's Passes

As from the 6 April 2010 eligibility for older persons of either sex was brought into line with the state retirement age for women which will gradually increase to 65 years by April 2020.
This means that a woman will be eligible for an older persons bus pass on the date that she reaches pensionable age, and a man will become eligible for a bus pass when he reaches the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.
You may calculate the date on which you will become eligible for a bus pass by reason of age by visiting the Department of Work and Pensions State Pension Calculator opens in a new window.  (Please note that men must select the female option in order identify the correct eligibility date for a bus pass.)

Disabled Person's Passes

If you are not eligible by reason of age you must have a disability that;
  1. Is permanent or ‘long term’(i.e. is likely to last for at least a year)
  2. Has a substantial and adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
  3. Falls into one one or more of the following categories;
    • Blind or partially sighted
    • Profoundly or severely deaf
    • Without speech
    • Unable or virtually unable to walk*
    • Without arms, or long term use of arms*
    • Have a learning disability (that is ‘a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning’ )
    • Persons who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds (excluding the misuse of drugs or alcohol)
* Please note that only those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance with the higher rate mobility component or a disabled persons blue badge will automatically qualify.
As medical conditions can change over time, in most cases disabled person’s passes will not be renewed automatically upon expiry and fresh documentary evidence will be required as detailed on page 2 of the application form. If you hold a disabled pass that is about to expire and need advice about this please call the Concessionary Fares Desk on 01803 207766
Carer’s passes are not given financial support by Central Government, and regrettably for this reason, they are not issued by Torbay Council.

How to apply for a pass

You will need to complete an application form (forms are also available from any of our issuing outlets).
You will then need to take your completed form, together with one document as proof of residency and one document for proof of eligibility (a list of what is accepted can be found on the second page of the application form), to one of the following issuing outlets:

Lost or Stolen Passes

If your pass has been lost or stolen, we advise you to contact the Strategic Transport Team- See the Contact Us panel on the top right of this page.
Passes that are lost, quite often turn up a few days later. We recommend waiting a few days before applying for a new one. If your pass is returned to us will make arrangements to return it.
There is a £10 charge for the replacement of a lost pass. If you wish to apply for a replacement you will need to attend an issuing office personally and bring proof of your identity with you.

Change of Details

Please notify the Strategic Transport team of any change to your contact or personal details.
If you are moving from Torbay, you should surrender your pass.
We would also be grateful to next of kin returning any passes from those that pass away. We can then update our records to prevent unnecessary further contact.
Further information about English National Concessionary Bus Travel can on the DfT: Concessionary Fares opens in a new window website.

Introduction of 'Smartcard' technology from 5 September 2011

The English National Concessionary bus pass has been designed so that it is also a smartcard – this means that it can be read electronically by the ticket machines on buses to record important statistical journey data.(Please note-No personal data will be recorded).
From 5 September 2011 the ticket machines on Stagecoach Buses in Devon and Somerset will have the technology to enable this to happen. We hope that this technology will be extended to all bus operators in due course.
You do not need to apply for a replacement Bus Pass but as with all new technology there will be a ‘bedding in’ period. If there is a problem, the smartcard reader will show an error message. The driver will check this message and your pass and then explain what happens next. If the driver thinks that the error is because of a problem with your pass, they will record your journey manually and suggest that you contact us. If this happens please call us on 01803 207766.
If your card requires replacement because of a technical problem this will be done free of charge. Please note that a driver or official may ask to see your concessionary pass, even if the reader accepts it, as part of a general ticket/pass inspection programme

Related Documents

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Related Tasks

Contact Concessionary Fares Desk