The National Concessionary Fares scheme (bus passes)
The National Concessionary pass replaces the Sussex Countycard. It allows the holder to travel on local off-peak bus services throughout England.
You can apply for a National pass if you are aged 60* or over or you suffer from a disability.
A guide for Wealden residents
The scheme entitles participants to concessionary travel on local bus services throughout England
subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme. The card is available for qualifying residents from
Wealden District Council. You can apply in person, or by post, contact details are as follows:
Application in person:
Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX
or
Council Offices, Pine Grove, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 1DH
Application by post to:
Customer Services, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX
Eligibility
To qualify for a National bus pass, you need to fulfil one of the following criteria. Required proof is detailed next to each of the criteria (photocopies are acceptable and advised if posting application):
- Aged 60* years or over - Proof of age e.g. birth certificate, driving licence, passport,
medical card etc. *Please see the note below on changes from April 6 2010.
- In receipt of Disability Living Allowance - Letter of confirmation of receipt of DLA
- Blind or partially sighted - Your registration card
- Without speech - You will need to provide a letter from your doctor confirming your
condition
- Profoundly or severely deaf - Your registration card
- Have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term
adverse affect on your ability to walk - You will need to provide a letter from your
doctor confirming your condition or your DLA letter
- Do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms - You will need to
provide a letter from your doctor confirming your condition or your DLA letter
- Have a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of
mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning -
You will need to provide a letter from your doctor confirming your condition
- Would be refused a driving licence under Section 92 (physical fitness) of part III of
the Road Traffic Act 1998 - You will need to provide a letter from your doctor
confirming your condition
All applicants must also provide:
- proof of address, e.g. current council tax bill, utility bill, driving licence, bank or
building society statement. You must reside permanently in the Wealden area
- a recent passport-style photograph. Please note we can offer a photograph facility at our Hailsham reception. If you do not have a suitable, existing passport-style photograph, we can take your photo when you call in.
Companions
If you are unable to travel on buses without assistance you may apply for a “plus companion” pass to
allow a companion to travel with you free of charge. You do not have to travel with a companion if you
are able to travel unaided from time to time. Companions may be charged for travel outside of the
Wealden area.
Please tick the “plus companion” box if you are applying for a companion pass.
You will need to obtain a letter from your doctor stating that you need a companion to use public
transport.
Application form
The National Concessionary Fare Scheme
Full details of the National Concessionary free bus travel in England.
Lost or stolen pass?
If you lose your pass, please contact us on 01323 443557 or call in to one of our receptions at Hailsham or Crowborough. We can replace passes but there is a charge of £10 for a lost pass to contribute toward the cost of replacement. Subsequent lost passes are charged at £20.
Stolen passes are replaced free of charge provided a crime number is supplied.
Change in Age of Eligibility
The qualifying age for a concessionary bus pass is changing in line with those changes being made to equalise entitlement to state pension benefits from 6 April 2010.
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 6 April 2010, to 65 on 5 April 2020.
The Government decided this would be the fairest method, rather than introduce a one-off rise which would leave those currently close to retirement age facing a full five-year delay.
The age of eligibility for bus passes is scheduled to rise by two months every one month. This means the earliest date on which you can get your pass will depend on what month you were born in and will not fall on your birthday.
The changes do not affect anyone already in possession of a bus pass, only those due to turn 60 on or after 6th April 2010.
The table below sets out when those approaching the age of 60 will become eligible for their bus pass.
Date of eligibility from April 6 2010 (pdf, 20kb)
Anyone born after 5th April 1955 will not be eligible until they reach 65.