The measure has been announced by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Transport and Downing Street as part of wider changes to bus travel. According to the Express, the policy is intended to reduce transport costs while making it easier for disabled people to reach work, education, training and other services.
At present, disabled concessionary passes are generally valid between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, although local authorities can choose to fund wider access. Greater Manchester Combined Authority removed those restrictions permanently in March 2026, allowing pass holders there to travel earlier in the day.
From April next year, that arrangement will be extended across England. People who hold an eligible disabled bus pass will be able to make free journeys throughout the day rather than waiting until the current 9.30am starting point.
£60 Million Will Support the Change to Concessionary Travel
The removal of the time restriction will be backed by £60 million from existing DWP and Department for Transport budgets. According to the Express, ministers say the change is designed to improve access to employment, education and training while reducing the cost of travel for disabled passengers.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the existing rules could prevent some people from using their concessionary passes when travelling to work. “For too long, disabled people have held a free bus pass in their pocket that didn’t always get them to work,” he said.
McFadden said removing the restrictions would allow disabled people to access “jobs, training, and other opportunities at any time of the day”. He also linked the measure to £3.5 billion of government spending on tailored employment support.
The policy forms part of a broader package of bus measures cited in the announcement. These include a £2 bus fare cap from January 2027, free bus travel for children across England during August and increased control for local leaders over bus services through the Bus Services Act.
Eligibility Rules for Disabled Bus Passes Will Remain in Place
The change affects when existing concessionary passes can be used rather than the statutory criteria determining who qualifies for one. Eligibility is set out under the Transport Act 2000 and covers seven categories of disability.
According to the government, these include people who are blind or partially sighted, profoundly or severely deaf, without speech, or unable or virtually unable to walk because of a disability. The criteria also cover people without arms or who cannot use both arms, people with a learning disability, and those who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds other than drug or alcohol misuse. Local authorities will continue to administer the scheme and assess applications against those statutory conditions.
The announcement said the nationwide change follows the earlier removal of time restrictions in Greater Manchester. Andy Burnham said buses were a “lifeline” for people travelling to work, education and healthcare, and argued that disabled passengers should not be prevented from using their passes at particular times of day. From 1 April 2027, the existing weekday restriction will therefore end across England, giving eligible disabled concessionary pass holders access to free bus travel throughout the day.
