When you qualify for free bus pass and how to get it

Millions of Brits could be in line for extra help with their travel costs, including free bus passes and hefty train discounts. Regardless of where you live in the UK, there are a host of schemes aimed at making public transport more affordable for older people.

However, eligibility criteria can vary, especially when it comes to the age needed to qualify for certain programmes.

For example, the age at which you can get a free bus pass can differ greatly depending on whether you're based in England, Scotland, or Wales. Read on for a full rundown of all the help available.

In England, pensioners become eligible for a free bus pass when they hit the state pension age of 66, which applies to both men and women. So, if you were born in 1959, you will be able to get your hands on the free bus pass this year.

You can apply for this scheme through your local council under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, although the actual name of the bus pass may change depending on where you live.

When applying, you might be asked to provide a passport-style photo as well as a document proving your age and address. This can include:.

However, if you are living in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, you can hop on the bus for free even earlier. In Scotland, once you hit 60, you can get your hands on a National Entitlement Card which gives you free bus travel all over Scotland.

But remember, this Scottish concessionary travel only applies to registered local and long-distance bus services. So, certain premium-fare services, tours, excursions and group hire services aren't part of the deal.

In Northern Ireland, anyone aged 60 and above can travel for free with a SmartPass card. In Wales, you can bag a bus pass once you reach the ripe old age of 60.

For those living it up in London, free travel on buses, tubes and other transport is available from the age of 60, but this is only within London.

Once you reach 60, folks across England, Scotland, and Wales can nab a hefty discount on their rail travel with a Senior Railcard. This little gem could potentially save older people an average of £96 a year on their commutes.

To apply, you will need a valid form of ID like a driving licence to prove your age. You can submit applications either through the official Senior Railcard website or at a staffed station ticket office.