PLAN YOUR JOURNEY

Apply for a free bus pass

Concessionary Bus Pass

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme allows all eligible older and disabled people to travel free on off-peak (between 9.30am-11pm Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and bank holidays) scheduled bus services anywhere in England.

Local Authorities are allowed, at their discretion and own cost, to provide additional concessions for the benefit of local residents.

In Lincolnshire, the County Council currently allows Lincolnshire pass holders to travel free of charge on local journeys before 9.30am on weekdays.

Lincolnshire County Council has rolled out a campaign – Freedom Never Gets Old – to encourage those eligible for a buss pass to apply.

Concessionary bus pass

Eligibility

Residency – Permanent residents of Lincolnshire. This can be proved using an official document with your name and address, e.g. Bank Statement, Utility Bill, dated within the last 6 months. Your Local Council Tax bill for the current year will also be acceptable.

Age Criteria – You no longer receive a pass automatically at the age of 60. The age of qualification is the same for men and women and is linked to the state pension age for women, which is currently being increased to reach 66 by the year of 2020

To see when you qualify for a free pass on age grounds please visit Directgov’s State Pension Age Calculator and enter your date of birth or alternatively download our Concessionary Bus Travel Brochure below.

Proof of Age must also be included with your application by supplying one of the following Birth Certificate, Passport, Driving Licence, Proof of State Pension, or a Doctors Repeat Prescription.

Disability criteria – Whilst there are many types of disability only 7 are recognised for the scheme, a blue badge or higher rate DLA / PIPS would provide sufficient evidence in most cases.

To be eligible, your disability must be permanent, have lasted at least 12 months, or be likely to last at least 12 months.

Concessionary bus pass

Applying

You can apply for a concessionary bus pass in a variety of ways:

By post

Downloaded or hard copy forms must be completed and returned by post with the relevant documents and photograph to the address on the application form. New applications should be made via post no earlier than 21 days in advance of your eligibility date. Your pass should be sent to you within 10 working days upon receipt of an application.

Concessionary Fares Team
PO Box 1305
Lincoln
LN5 5RT

Concessionary bus pass

Renew

There is no fee for renewing your pass and you can renew up to four months in advance of your card expiring. For an older persons renewal you will need to provide a passport sized photo taken within the last 12 months plus proof of residency if you have changed address since your current bus pass was issued.

For disability pass you will need to provide a passport sized photo taken within the last 12 months, proof of residency if you have changed address since your current bus pass was issued and sufficient evidence of eligibility for the disability category you are applying under.

You can renew your Lincolnshire concessionary pass by post, by email or online portal. Renewal application forms are available to download, or they are available from libraries and District Council offices.

If you would like to apply by email please send the attachments listed below to: Concessionaryfares@lincolnshire.gov.uk

You can also renew your pass using the new Online Portal (For Older Persons applications and renewals):

Please allow up to 28 days to receive your new pass.

Lost, Stolen, Damaged & Faulty Cards

Replace

If your pass has been lost, damaged or stolen, call the Concessionary Fares Team on 0345 456 4474. There will usually be a non-refundable administration charge of £10 for a replacement unless your pass was stolen and you can provide a valid police crime number.

Proof of Residency is required for a replacement pass if you have moved since your pass was issued.

If you request more than two replacement passes in the same period of the pass, the circumstances may be investigated.

Lost, Stolen & Damaged

Paying

You can pay over the phone; 0345 456 4474 or go to the Online Payment System and select ‘Older & Disabled ENCTS Pass’. If paying online and you have moved since your pass was issued you will still need to submit proof of residency before a replacement pass can be issued.

Concessionary bus pass

Excluded Services

You will not be able to use your concessionary bus pass on the following services:

Concessionary bus pass

FAQs

Ring the helpline on 0345 456 4474 or alternatively Email: ConcessionaryFares@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Open Monday to Friday 9.30am -5.30pm 

Yes. If the bus is equipped with a card reader simply place the pass flat and face up onto the reader and tell the driver your destination in the normal way. You should see a green light and hear a beep; this shows that your pass is valid. When the ticket has printed you can remove your card from the reader.

If your bus has not yet been fitted with an automatic reader, your pass must be shown to the driver at the beginning of the journey and the destination given. If you have a problem using your pass on the bus or any other issues regarding the scheme please contact the Concessionary Fares Team on 0345 456 4474.

Persons caught using any travel pass in a fraudulent manner will have the pass withdrawn and may be excluded from the scheme.

You can use your bus pass on all local bus services in England but not on the following types of non-standard service:

  • Services where most seats can be reserved (eg National Express or other long distance services)
  • Rail replacement bus services
  • Park & Ride services
  • Coach excursions and tours
  • Taxis and private hire cars
  • Trains
  • Certain seasonal services
  • Community Transport Schemes

Remember your pass will not be valid in other countries including Scotland & Wales and you will probably not be entitled to any local (discretionary) travel arrangements except those within your home area.

If in doubt, you can check with the service operator or the relevant local authority in the area in which you intend to travel.

You may use your bus pass on certain Park and Ride schemes, if the bus you are boarding is a timetabled local bus. In addition the pass can be used on Callconnect services operating in the local area. Your bus pass can't be used on the London Underground, site seeing tours, excursions (such as National Express trips),  taxis or trains (including rail replacement services) and trams. Voluntary Car schemes and other community transport initiatives are not eligible either.

The national scheme allows pass holders free off-peak bus travel anywhere within England on local bus services. This scheme does not include long distance services such as National Express or travel in Scotland and Wales.

No, you can make as many journeys as you like.

You can travel free of charge within Lincolnshire before 9.30am so long as you have a 'Lincolnshire' Pass and your journey starts from a point within Lincolnshire. For all other circumstances you will have to pay the appropriate fare for the journey.

Your initial pass and renewals are free of charge. However a £10 charge will be levied to replace lost or damaged passes.

Depending on volumes your pass should be sent to you within 10 working days. If you apply in person (appointments must be pre-booked, please call 0345 456 4474), passes will normally be issued immediately at the point of application.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme allows all eligible elderly and disabled people to travel free on off-peak scheduled bus services anywhere in England. Off peak hours are between 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and bank holidays. Local Authorities are allowed, at their discretion and cost, to provide additional concessions for the benefit of local residents. These local discretions can be subject to change.
Lincolnshire County Council, currently allows Lincolnshire pass holders to travel free of charge on local journeys before 9.30am on weekdays within the county of Lincolnshire. This discretion is not valid in other counties.

No. Alternative options such as taxi tokens and rail cards are no longer available.

No, the pass is only to be used by the eligible person - i.e. the person whose name and picture appears on the front of the pass. Use by any other party would be fraud.

We do not issue or recognize Companion Passes within the Lincolnshire area. You may take a friend to travel with you on the bus but they will have to pay the appropriate fare for their journey unless they hold a free bus pass in their own right.

If you move to another address in Lincolnshire you should inform us of where you moved from and where you are moving to. You will also be required to provide an official proof of residence by post or email. We will then ensure that your records are updated but you will be ok to use your existing pass until its expiry date.

If you are moving to an address outside of the county you must return your pass to us, advising us that you have moved away from the area. You will then need to apply with the relevant County or Unitary Council covering your new address to issue you with a new pass.

No. You should only apply for a bus pass from the authority in which your main permanent address is (i.e. where you pay your council tax bill). You will be entitled to use that pass to travel free of charge around the country during off-peak periods. Please note that any local discretions/enhancements to the scheme may only apply in the area in which your bus pass was issued.

Full details of all bus services and public transport in Lincolnshire can be viewed on our bus information website www.lincsbus.info.

Our Bus Travel page provides all current timetables, upcoming timetable changes, bus operator details, on demand public bus service operation, community transport information & downloadable town/city bus route maps.

Information for Lincolnshire and beyond can also be obtained from Traveline on 0871 200 2233, which operates 7am-10pm seven days a week providing timetable information for all registered local bus services or visit the Traveline Information webpage www.travelineeastmidlands.co.uk

There are relatively few areas in the County without access to public transport. Have you checked the availability of service in your area? (See details in previous answer). Most of the rural areas are covered by Callconnect, a demand responsive bus service (best described as Dial a Bus) - users are able to request journeys at a time to suit them. Callconnect services normally operate 6 days a week - for more information and to book a journey contact 0345 234 33 44. Your pass is valid on Callconnect Services.

In some areas Community Transport Schemes such as Voluntary Car Schemes, Dial A Ride etc. may be available to use. Find community transport here to search for availability in your local area.

A growing number of vehicles are now fully accessible - this means they are wheelchair accessible and often designed to be user friendly with bright grab rails, braille signage etc. There may be an issue if you use a very large powered wheelchair or scooter (due to size/weight restrictions etc.) - if in doubt contact the Callconnect Team on 0345 234 33 44 and someone there will be able to organise a specific assessment for you.

If your pass has been lost, damaged or stolen, please call the Concessionary Fares Team on 0345 456 4474. There will usually be a non-refundable administration charge of £10 for a replacement unless your pass was stolen and you can provide a valid police crime number.

Proof of ongoing residency is required for a replacement pass if you have moved since your pass was issued.

This can be proved using an official document with your name and address, e.g. Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Doctor's repeat prescription and DWP Correspondence. This however must be dated within the last 6 months. Your Local Council Tax bill for the current year will also be acceptable.

As a general rule, local authorities will only provide additional services for their own residents. You would be advised to check with the relevant Local Authority for the area that you are proposing to visit.

If you find a bus pass please telephone the concessionary helpline to inform us on: 0345 456 4474

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Looking for transport advice in Lincolnshire?

Transport Helpline

If you are looking for information regarding public transport in Lincolnshire call the Transport Helpline on 0345 456 4474 

Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 5.30pm

Saturday: 9:30am – 4pm.

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Concessionary Bus Travel

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Have you applied for your concessionary bus pass? Find out more about eligibility.

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