When to apply for your free bus pass

chickmug

Do you apply when you have reached, or past, your actual 60th birthday or before in anticipation of the birthday?

My friend has been told not to apply before their birthday which seems wrong as they admit it takes a week or two to get the pass out

oldwiring

I've done some finger work, and found that the DfT site is silent on the issue,( (Typical of government to ignore i, assuming councils will use common sense:rotfl:).

However a trawl of a number of TCAs ( that's the abbreviation for the isuing authorities, it appears that many, if not all, allow applications between 2 weeks and 1 month before the birthday.

I suggest that you or your friend look up the issuing local council's website, as it could be that a 'helpful' friend, or a clerk has given misinformation.

chickmug

oldwiring wrote: »

I've done some finger work, and found that the DfT site is silent on the issue,( (Typical of government to ignore i, assuming councils will use common sense:rotfl:).

However a trawl of a number of TCAs ( that's the abbreviation for the isuing authorities, it appears that many, if not all, allow applications between 2 weeks and 1 month before the birthday.

I suggest that you or your friend look up the issuing local council's website, as it could be that a 'helpful' friend, or a clerk has given misinformation.

After posting called my local council who said no sooner than 10 days before you are 60 and the pass would be with the person by their birthday. I gues it is so easy to think it will take many weeks as was my experience with my first fuel allowance last winter. Applied well before the date and had payment in March yet all others I know had it before Christmas

scotsbob

I applied one month before and received it a week later but it was only valid from the date of my birthday

Oblivion

I think it must vary from council to council. When I was approaching 60 earlier this year, I picked up an application form at my local council's offices. The notes with it advised that I could apply up to 3 weeks prior to my birthday because it usually took that long to have the cards made up.

Don't forget you'll need a passport sized photo to accompany your application, and you'll need to provide proof of age and address.

Dave.

McKneff

In our area, you walk into the council offices on or after your birthday with some proof of age, they take a digital photo of you and you walk out with your bus pass within 15 minutes - now thats service for you

Oblivion

McKneff wrote: »

In our area, you walk into the council offices on or after your birthday with some proof of age, they take a digital photo of you and you walk out with your bus pass within 15 minutes - now thats service for you

Sadly, our council is so stuck in the dark ages, they think 'digital' is something to do with fingers :rotfl:

Dave.

EdInvestor

McKneff wrote: »

In our area, you walk into the council offices on or after your birthday with some proof of age, they take a digital photo of you and you walk out with your bus pass within 15 minutes - now thats service for you

Excellent.My council also delivered on the photo part,but IIRC had to wait a couple of days for the pass to arrive in the mail.