Disabled people across England will be able to use their free bus passes at any time of day from next April, as Andy Burnham expands a policy he introduced as mayor of Greater Manchester.
The prime minister has said the current weekday restrictions on when disabled people can use their bus passes will be removed from 1 April 2027. Their passes are valid only between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, although some councils pay to allow people free travel outside those hours.
The change means disabled bus pass holders will be able to travel free on local bus services where the pass applies at any time of day or night. The charity Mencap welcomed the measures, noting that disabled people often struggle with the cost of living as well as the cost of their disability.
Burnham is putting up £60m in funding for the change, with £40m coming from the Department for Work and Pensions and £20m from the Department for Transport.
Government sources said the funding has no set end date and was not a one-off payment. They said the change would take seven months to introduce because it must be passed by parliament, and the April start date gave local transport authorities time to prepare.
Burnham is on the second week of his summer tour during which he is focusing on the cost of living. The disabled bus pass policy has been in place in Greater Manchester since March.
“Buses are a lifeline for so many people – making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare,” Burnham said. “It’s simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we’re fixing that. Disabled people will now have unlimited free bus travel 24/7.
“I did it before in Greater Manchester and I’m proud to do it now for the whole country. This is part of our ongoing action to bring back hope and give people some much needed breathing space on the cost of living.”
Ministers say the move will help disabled people get into work, education and training as well as helping with the cost of living.
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said the change would end a postcode lottery under which disabled people got different levels of support depending on where they lived.
The government says the measure is part of wider plans to make bus travel cheaper, including keeping the £2 fare cap throughout 2027 and giving under-16s free bus travel this summer.
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The executive director of strategy impact and social change at Scope, James Taylor, said: “Disabled people face extra costs every day and many need to travel in the morning for work, education and healthcare. Making free bus travel available around the clock is a welcome step that will put money back in people’s pockets and remove barriers to everyday life.”
The chief executive of Bus Users UK, Lydia Horbury, said: “Disabled people don’t live off-peak lives. Lifting these restrictions nationwide replaces an arbitrary postcode lottery with genuine freedom, independence and dignity.
“It will help more disabled people access work, reduce isolation, support bus use and reduce unnecessary car dependency.”
