Apply for, renew bus passes

To be eligible for a national bus pass, you must be a resident of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and be over the eligible age. If you are disabled please see criteria below to check whether you are eligible. 

If you are applying for a bus pass for the first time, you will need to upload proof of ID, proof of address (such as a utility bill, council tax bill or bank statement issued in the past three months) and a colour passport size photo.

To qualify for a companion bus pass you will also need to show specialist proof, such as a letter from a GP, medical specialist or social worker which confirms that you are unable to travel on buses without the help of a carer.

How do I qualify if I am an older person?

In England you can get an older persons bus pass for free travel when you reach the state pension age of 66, for both men and women.

For further information on when you become eligible for your state pension and associated benefits, including the national bus pass, please use the state pension calculator on the GOV.UK website.

How do I qualify if I am disabled?

The seven categories of disability include any person who:

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

Please note: If you have a blue badge you qualify for a national bus pass. However, you do not automatically qualify for a blue 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 information, please see the blue badge web page.

For more information about eligibility, please visit the GOV.UK website.

Accepted proof of eligibility 

We need to see one document to prove you are a resident of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and one document from an applicable category below:

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead resident: 

• Last council tax bill
• Rental agreement
• Utility bill (within last three months)
• Bank statement (within last three months)
• NHS medical card
• Benefits book
• For children: child benefit documentation or trust fund letter or vaccination reminders.

People of eligible age:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Driving licence bearing date of birth
• Letter from the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) confirming state retirement pension
• Retirement pension card
• NHS medical card bearing name and date of birth
• Printed prescription bearing name and date of birth (within last three months)
• Winter fuel payment letter.

People who are blind or partially sighted: 

• Letter from Berkshire Sensory Needs Service confirming disability registration as blind or partially sighted
• Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) signed by a Consultant Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
• Current disabled persons blue parking badge.

People who are profoundly or severely deaf:

• Letter from Berkshire Sensory Needs Service confirming disability registration as profoundly or severely deaf
• An audiology report on official paper confirming that the applicant is profoundly or severely deaf.

People who cannot speak:

• Letter from Berkshire Sensory Needs Service confirming disability registration as a person without speech
• Letter on official paper from a medical professional that applicant is without speech.

People who have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a long term effect on their ability to walk: 

• Evidence that the applicant is in receipt of PIP with a descriptor score of eight and above
• War pension with mobility supplement
• Current disabled persons blue parking badge
• Letter on official paper from a medical professional confirming that the applicant cannot walk for distances up to 100m without stopping, suffering severe discomfort or without help from another person.

People who are without the use of both arms:

• Visible evidence that the person is without arms
• Evidence that applicant is in receipt of PIP with a descriptor score of 8 and above
• Current disabled persons blue parking badge
• Letter on official paper from a medical professional confirming that the long term loss of use of both arms.

People who have a learning disability:

• Letter on official paper from the Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD) confirming that the applicant has a learning disability
• Letter on official paper from a medical practitioner confirming learning disability.

People who are unable to drive for medical reasons, but not on grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol: 

• Letter from DVLA giving notice of refusal or withdrawal of licence (not including voluntary withdrawal)
• Letter on official paper from a medical practitioner confirming that a medical condition prevents driving or issuing a licence.

Companion Bus Passes available to people who are unable to travel by bus without assistance:

Evidence of residence in the Royal Borough and either age or disability as outlined above and a letter on official paper from a GP or other medical specialist or social worker which states that the applicant finds it impossible to travel by bus alone.