Overview
- The government announced on Tuesday that time restrictions on concessionary bus passes will be lifted so eligible disabled people in England can travel free at any time from 1 April 2027.
- The change is backed by a £60 million package drawn from existing departmental budgets, with £40 million from the Department for Work and Pensions and £20 million from the Department for Transport.
- Ministers say the removal of weekday limits will end a postcode lottery that currently leaves some areas funding all‑day travel while others restrict passes to off‑peak hours.
- Eligibility remains defined by the Transport Act 2000’s seven statutory disability categories and local authorities will continue to administer and assess individual passes.
- Disability charities welcomed the move as cost‑of‑living and access relief, while critics called the funding a reallocation of existing budgets and asked for clearer long‑term cost detail; the policy may increase demand for bus services and affect local transport planning.