Although a new discount is available, the age for receiving a free bus pass increases in England.
Buckinghamshire Council has initiated a program to provide discounts on travel expenses for older and disabled bus passengers. This is good news as the age for obtaining a free bus pass in England is anticipated to rise in the future.
Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport at Buckinghamshire Council, stated, “By offering travel before 9am for a reduced fare of £1, the new trial will provide greater flexibility and accessibility for passengers and promote the benefits of using the local bus network.”
Bus pass holders are already entitled to free travel on weekdays between 9 am and 11.59 pm. According to the regulations for England, Buckinghamshire residents can receive a free bus pass when they hit state pension age.
The new “early bird” discount will apply to journeys beginning and ending within Buckinghamshire and will be valid for trips within the county. Anyone aged 65 and over is eligible for the concession pass and can therefore take advantage of the discounted fare of £1.
People aged 60 and over may still qualify for free transport depending on their location in the UK. For example, London residents can travel for free on buses, the Tube, and other transport within the capital.
Individuals in Wales can acquire a free bus pass upon reaching the age of 60. The government website has a checker tool that helps one learn about discounts available in their area.
To use this tool, the user enters their postcode and is then directed to the local council website, which has the appropriate details.
Recently, state pension payments increased by 10.1 percent for both basic and new state pensions.
The full basic state pension now pays £156.20 per week, while the full new state pension pays £203.85 per week.
A government website tool can help you find out your state pension age. There is also a state pension forecast tool that shows how much state pension they are on track to receive.
An individual can increase their state pension by voluntarily paying National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps in their record.
Typically, one requires 30 years of contributions to receive the full basic state pension and 35 years of contributions to receive the full new state pension.
People of state pension age may also want to check if they meet the requirements for Pension Credit, which supplements the income of pensioners with low incomes.
An eligible individual may apply for assistance up to four months before reaching state pension age.
Claiming the benefit increases a person’s weekly income to £201.05 (for single claimants) or up to £306.85 a week (for couples).
Receiving the benefit also provides access to other forms of government support, such as council tax discounts, free TV licenses for claimants aged 75 and over, and assistance with heating bills.
