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Concessionary Fares

National Bus Pass Scheme for Older People and Disabled People

If you're of eligible age or have a registered disability you are entitled to a national bus pass which allows you to enjoy free off-peak travel on local bus services anywhere in England.

Eligible age:

For a woman eligible age means pensionable age, for a man this means pensionable age of a woman born the same day. For more information see Q3.

The name of the bus pass scheme is the National Bus Concession, and it is also known as Concessionary Fares.

There is no time restriction for RBWM bus pass holders boarding buses within RBWM - local bus travel is free at all times (exclusions apply, please see Q11 and Q12 below)

Changes to older people's bus pass eligibility 6 April 2010
How to apply and who is eligible
How, When, Where and On What to use your new national bus pass
Additional information (including lost or stolen bus passes)
Companion bus passes
Contact information
Eligibility Leaflet
Concessionary Fares Conditions of Use (pdf)
Fraud Prevention

Changes to older people's bus pass eligibility - 6 April 2010

New government regulations which come into force on 6 April 2010 mean that Royal Borough residents approaching their 60th birthdays will have to wait longer before qualifying for their concessionary bus passes.

The government has increased the age of eligibility for bus passes in line with the rise in state pension age for women which is rising in stages between 2010 and 2020 - so that by 2020 both men and women will have to wait until they are 65 to receive their state pensions.

The change in bus passes eligibility means that residents will no longer qualify for passes on their 60th birthdays - and the earliest date which they can qualify will depend on the date on which they were born, with the age of eligibility rising by two months every one month.

The calculations are based on the rise in state pension age for women - the same calculations will be used to work out male eligibility for bus passes even though their state pension age is already 65.

For more details on age-related eligibility, please see Q3 below.

There are no changes to eligibility for disabled bus passes or companion bus passes. All current bus passes will continue to be valid until the expiry date shown on the card.

How to apply and who is eligible

1. Where do I get my free bus pass from?

Applications should be made in person at one of the Council's 5 issuing sites:

Customer Services Centre, Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF
(Opening times for bus applications: Mon-Thur 08.45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 - 16.45)

Customer Services Centre, Windsor
York House, Sheet Street, Windsor, SL4 1DD
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Thur 08.45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 - 16.45)

Charters Leisure Centre
Charters Comprehensive School, Charters Road, Sunningdale, SL5 9QY
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Fri 16:30 - 23:00 [schooldays] OR Mon-Fri 09:00 - 23:00 [school holidays]; Sat-Sun 09:00 - 18:00)

Magnet Leisure Centre
Holmanleaze, Maidenhead, SL6 8AW
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Wed 10:00 - 17:00; Thu 12:00 - 20:00; Fri 10:00 - 17:00; Sat 09:00 - 16:00; Sun 10:00 - 16:00)

Windsor Leisure Centre
Clewer Mead, Stovell Road, Windsor, SL4 5JB
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 21:00; Sat 10:00 - 18:00; Sun 10:00 - 16:00)

Contact phone number 01628 683806.

The issuing service is no longer available at Windsor Information Centre or Performance at Braywick.

Your new pass will be posted to you within 10 working days along with a Frequently Asked Questions leaflet and the RBWM Concessionary Travel Pass Conditions of use. Further checks will be made on your application to verify your eligibility.

For contact details and opening times for Leisure Centres and the Customer Service Centres please click on the relevant link.

2. Who is eligible?

All borough residents over the eligible age or who are registered disabled.

3. How do I qualify if I am an older person?

From 6 April 2010, the age of eligibility for concessionary travel for women will be pension age and for men it will be the pensionable age of a women born on the same day.

The state pension age for women is rising by five years over a period of ten years. The age of eligibility will rise incrementally, that is, in stages, between 2010 and 2020. The earliest age for men and women to get bus passes will therefore rise gradually, from 60 on 5 April 2010 to 65 on 6 April 2020.

There are no changes to eligibility for disabled or companion bus passes. All current bus passes will continue to be valid, until the expiry date shown on the card.

The easiest way to find out when you can apply for your bus pass is by your date f birth.

Residents born before 6 April 1950 are eligible for a bus pass from their 60th birthday
Residents born between 6 April 1950 and 6 April 1955 can claim their bus pass at the pensionable age of a women
Residents born after 6 April 1955 can claim their bus pass on their 65th bithday (in line with state pension)

Please see the Eligibility table webpage to find out when you will be eligible for an older person's bus pass.

There is also a 'ready reckoner' tool which enables people affected by the pension age changes to see at what age they become eligible for their state pension and associated benefits, including the National Bus Pass. You can find this on the Direct Gov website.

4. How do I qualify if I am disabled?

The seven categories of disability include any person who:

is blind or partially sighted
is profoundly or severely deaf
is without speech
has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk [registered disabled]
does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
would have an application to drive a motor vehicle refused due to their disability.

NB. If you have a blue disabled parking badge you qualify for a bus pass. (You do not, however, automatically qualify for a blue disabled parking badge if you have a disabled bus pass and further assessment of your disability may be required). If you would like to find out more about the blue disabled parking badge scheme, please see the Blue Badge webpage.

5. What evidence do I need to bring to apply for a new bus pass?

In order to qualify for a bus pass, you must live permanently within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Bus passes will be issued upon seeing proof of address and either age or disability. Please see pdf below for a full list of documents that we will accept as proof of eligibility.

In instances where you are not able to produce any of these documents to prove your entitlement to a disability-related bus pass, you may be assessed by an appropriate medical specialist.

For more information about eligibility please visit the Direct Gov website.

6. Do I need to bring a photo in?

No, we take a photograph of you at the issuing sites.

7. Can I get one for my husband/wife/partner?

No, individuals have to attend to have their photo taken.

8. Can I claim a Concessionary Fares Direct Payment (previously known as taxi vouchers) as well?

No, you may only hold one type of concession at any one time: your bus pass will be invalidated if you apply for and are accepted to receive the Concessionary Fares Direct Payment (CFDP). Concessionary Fares Direct Payments are used by permanently disabled residents who are unable to use public transport.

9. Can I get a rail pass at the same time?

No, rail passes are only available from the railway station and are not included in the national bus pass scheme.

How, When, Where and On What to use your new national bus pass

10. Are there conditions for using the bus pass ?

Yes, please refer to the RBWM Concessionary Travel Pass Conditions of Use pdf (this is posted to you with your bus pass).

11. When is it free and can I travel on a bus at any time?

The new government minimum times of travel are 9.30am-11pm Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and bank holidays.

Residents may travel at any time every day within the boundaries of RBWM.

You may also use your bus pass on buses in Slough and Bracknell at any time. You may use your bus pass in Reading, West Berkshire, and Wokingham localities after 9am until 11pm.

In the rest of England, please assume that you may only travel between 9.30am - 11pm as local benefits to extend this time are often available only to people resident in those areas. However, to be sure about what you are entitled to it is worth checking with the relevant local authority in the area you are visiting before you travel.

Restrictions apply on the Green Line bus service (please see Q15).

Please see the Companion Bus Passes for relevant restrictions.

12. How strict are the time restrictions?

The time restrictions apply are applied strictly (i.e. the pass will not be valid if you board a bus 10 minutes early where restrictions apply).

13. How do I use my pass?

In most areas the national pass will be used as a 'flash pass' and shown to the driver when boarding. However, in some areas outside of London, buses have smart electronic pass readers. In these areas, passengers will be able to put their pass over the electronic pass reader and it will identify that the holder is entitled to a free journey and will record that the journey has been made.

If you are unsure, please ask the driver for assistance when boarding the bus.

14. Can I travel on any bus?

The new national scheme entitles bus pass holders to travel for free on local, off-peak bus services. The definition of a 'local bus' will be self-evident in most cases, but in a few instances could include some longer distance buses and coach services where part of their route is registered as a local bus service (such as the Green Line). If in doubt, pass holders can check with the service operator, or with RBWM on 01628 683806.

The National Bus Concession does not include the following:

Scheduled coach services not registered as local bus services
Other modes such as ferries, trains, or trams
Community transport services not registered as local bus services
Other special services

The above list is not exhaustive but gives a guide to the main exemptions; if in doubt, contact RBWM on 01628 683806.

15. What about travelling on the Green Line service?

RBWM residents may travel for free on the Green Line (bus numbers 700, 701 and 702) from 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays. If you wish to use one of the Green Line bus services before 9.30am you will have to pay the full adult fare. For timetable information please visit the Greenline website.

16. How far can I travel for free?

You may travel for free across England on local bus services between 9.30am - 11pm. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from this scheme.

Please see the Companion Bus Passes for relevant restrictions.

17. If I visit an area which offers additional services, will I be entitled to those services?

Probably not. Authorities that offer additional services must fund the additional services themselves. As a general rule they only provide the additional services for their own residents. However, some authorities do have schemes which offer benefits to people from some other areas. It is worth checking the relevant local authority in the area to which you intend to travel.

18. Where can I catch the bus to Bracknell, Reading, High Wycombe, Slough, Staines or Heathrow Airport?

Call the National Bus Travel line on 0871 200 2233. It is a very good service. Alternatively link to the journey planner on the Bus Services serving the Borough.

19. Can I travel for free in London?

You may use your bus pass as a 'flash and go' card on London buses at off-peak times. You may not use your pass on other modes of transport such as tubes, trains or trams. These benefits are paid for by the London authorities and are therefore available only to London Freedom Pass Holders. Non-London residents are only entitled to the statutory national concession of free off-peak bus travel when visiting London.

20. Where do I get a bus timetable from?

Find bus timetables on board local buses or there is a limited selection available from the Customer Service Centres at the Town Hall in Maidenhead and at York House in Windsor, your local library and Windsor Tourist Information Centre.

For Courtney Coaches services, please visit Courtney Coaches webiste or request timetables by calling 01344 482200.

For First bus services, please visit First Group website or request timetables by calling 01753 524144.

21. Where do I get real-time bus information from?

RBWM operates a real-time bus information text service.

Additional Information

22. Can I use my existing Advantage card style bus pass (which doesn't expire until 2011 or later) as a free bus pass?

No, your Advantage card style bus pass is no longer valid as a bus pass. However, please keep your existing Advantage card for use for discounts at local shops, atrractions and parking.

23. Will I need to get a new Advantage card?

No, you can continue to use your Advantage card for discounts at local shops, attractions, and for car parking but it will not be valid as a bus pass.

24. Can I use my new bus pass for parking discounts in RBWM car parks?

No, you will need to use your yellow Advantage card in parking meters.

25. How long is the free bus pass valid for?

There will be an expiry date on your full national bus pass which will not be longer than 5 years.

26. What will my pass look like?

Four types of passes being issued within RBWM:

For those aged 60 or over, your pass will feature a blue strip down the right-hand side.
For disabled people, yours will feature an orange strip.
For those aged 60 or over who find it impossible to travel by bus without assistance, you may apply for a companion bus pass which will feature a blue strip down the right-hand side with a capital C in the top right-hand corner.
For disabled people who find it impossible to travel by bus without assistance, you may apply for a companion bus pass which will feature an orange strip down the right-hand side with a captial C in the top right-hand corner.

There is a red rose and ribbon running across the top of the cards to represent England. You will also see the RBWM crest on the top right.

27. I have lost my bus pass, or it has been stolen, can it be replaced?

Yes, you will need to go to one of the issuing sites with proof of residency and either age or disability. Please be aware that each replacement will incur an admin charge of £15.

28. The person who held a bus pass has died - what should I do with the bus pass?

Please return the bus pass to: Concessionary Fares, CSC, RBWM, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1RF. We will cancel the bus pass.

Companion Bus Passes

29. What is a Companion Bus Pass?

The local Companion Bus Pass allows people who are unable to travel by bus without assistance to be accompanied by a person who will travel for free, subject to restrictions.

30. Who can apply for a Companion Bus Pass?

In addition to being a resident of RBWM and either of eligible age or registered disabled, a person is eligible for the Companion Bus Pass if they can show that they find it impossible to travel by bus without assistance. Applications are considered on a case by case basis.

Your companion will not receive a bus pass in their own right.

You may not hold both a Companion Bus Pass and a standard National Bus Pass. When you apply for a Companion Bus Pass you will be asked to return your standard National Bus Pass to RBWM Council.

31. How do I use my Campanion Bus Pass?

The Companion Bus Pass is only valid when the Bus Pass Holder is accompanied.

The Companion bus pass will have a capital C in the top right-hand corner which must be shown to the bus driver when you and your companion board the bus.

Your companion may be any person of your choice, including young carers, who is capable of assisting you on a bus. A companion is not restricted to one specific person, but only one companion may travel for free on any one journey.

Your companion will not receive a bus pass on their own right and they cannot use the Companion Bus Pass for free travel when travelling alone or for journeys started outside RBWM or Slough (in these instances the Bus Pass Holder will still travel for free as entitled by the National Concessionary Fares Scheme minimum benefits).

A companion will be able to travel for free with the Bus Pass Holder within RBWM or Slough at all times and on all days of the year.

32. How do I apply for a Companion Pass?

To qualify for a companion bus pass the holder will need to show specialist proof - ie a letter from a medical specialist or social worker - confirming that they are unable to travel on buses without the help of a carer.

Companion Bus Pass applications may only be made in person at Maidenhead Customer Service Centre or Windsor Customer Service Centre. You will not be able to obtain a Companion Bus Pass from any Leisure Centre.

Customer Services Centre, Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF
(Opening times for bus applications: Mon-Thur 08.45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 - 16.45)

Customer Services Centre, Windsor
York House, Sheet Street, Windsor, SL4 1DD
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Thur 08:45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 -16.45)

33. What proof do I need to provide for a Companion Bus Pass application?

You will be asked to provide written confirmation from your GP, medical specialist or social worker that you find it impossible to travel on buses without the assistance of a carer. If you do not already have a standard National Bus Pass you will also need to provide proof that you are a RBWM resident and that you are either of eligible age or have a registered disability. If you already have a standard National Bus Pass you will be given a postage paid envelope to return this to the Council once you have received your Companion Bus Pass. Your new pass will be sent to you within 10 working days.

Contact Information:

By email: customer.services@rbwm.gov.uk
By telephone: 01628 683806
By post: Concessionary Fares, CSC, RBWM, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1RF

Web page: Bus Services

Fraud Prevention

Following your application for a national bus pass, further checks will be made using the information you provided to verify your eligibility.

If our checks indicate that you may not be eligible, for example, because you are already in receipt of a Concessionary Fares Direct Payment, you will receive a letter or telephone call to inform you of this.

The Council has the duty by law to administer a national bus pass to those within its area who qualify. We also have a responsibility to ensure that payments and bus passes are given only to those who are actually entitled to receive them.

For that reason, the Royal Borough has its own Fraud section whose duties include: