Bus passes for disabled people
Get free bus travel at any time in Hertfordshire, and free across England off-peak between 9.30am and 11pm weekdays and all day during weekends and bank holidays.
You can also ask for a companion pass so that someone can travel with you.
Why we need your information
The data on this form is being gathered for the purpose of processing older and disabled person’s bus pass applications. Hertfordshire County Council will use this information to ensure all contacts (including calls, emails, online contacts and webchats) are managed effectively to assess eligibility, process applications and give the best customer service possible. Hertfordshire County Council is legally obliged to collect and process this data to provide mandatory travel concessions under the Transport Act 1985, Transport Act 2000 and Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 together with associated regulations.
What we will do with your information
The information you give us will be processed by Serco under contract to the Customer Service and Passenger Transport Unit teams of Hertfordshire County Council and will be used to process bus pass applications and help us to manage and improve the scheme.
To help process your application and provide proof of eligibility for a disability bus pass, we may check our social care systems for supporting information about your disability or talk to your social worker if further support is required. It can also be used for statistical analysis and reporting to help plan and improve the passenger transport network. We pass this to a third party, Euclid, who print and issue bus passes under contract to Hertfordshire County Council. We will also share information with third parties if we are legally obliged to do so, for example if it necessary to safeguard or protect a vulnerable adult or child. We may also share information with the police or other agencies if it is necessary for the following purposes:
a) the prevention or detection of crime
b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders
c) the assessment or collection of any tax or duty or any imposition of a similar nature
This also includes the internal Fraud service and bus companies in relation to potential fraudulent use of bus passes.
How long we will keep your information
The information that you supply to us will be kept on file for:
a) Application Data 7 years after creation of the bus pass
b) Passenger Details 2 years after the last use or expiry of an ‘active’ bus pass
c) Bus Pass Usage 8 years after the bus pass transaction data record was created.
What are your rights?
Hertfordshire County Council will be the Data Controller for this information. You have the following rights in relation to this data:
- You have the right to be informed about what information we hold about you and how we use it.
- You have the right to request copies of any information the Council holds about you by making a subject access request.
- If information we hold about you is factually inaccurate you have the right to have it corrected.
- You have the right to object to the way we are using your data.
- You have the right to request that your data is deleted. However we may be unable to delete your data if there is a need for us to keep it. In this case you will receive an explanation of why we need to keep the data.
- You can also request that we stop using your data while we consider a request to have it corrected or deleted. There may be some circumstances in which we are unable to do this however we will provide an explanation if this is the case.
- In certain circumstances you may also request data we hold about you in a format that allows it to be transferred to another organisation.
- In the event that decisions are taken using automated processes you have the right to request that these decisions are reviewed by a member of staff and to challenge these decisions.
If you would like to request copies of your data, request that your data is deleted or have any other queries in relation to data which the Council holds about you please contact the Data Protection Team. Data Protection Team Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Pegs Lane
Hertford
SG13 8DQ
Tel: 01992 588099 Email: data.protection@hertfordshire.co.uk
You can also contact our Data Protection Officer at dataprotection.officer@hertfordshire.gov.uk or in writing to the address above.
If you are unhappy with the way that Hertfordshire County Council has used your data or with the way we have responded to a request you also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office www.ico.org.uk.
Before you start...
You'll need the following to apply for a disabled person's bus pass online:
- A recent passport-style photo.
- Documents to prove eligibility (depending on your eligibility code) can be found in Can I apply for a disabled person's bus pass?
- Benefit award letters should be current and dated within the last 12 months.
- We don't need any proof of address.
It'll take around 10-15 minutes to apply online.
You can get help with applying for a bus pass online at your local library.
Easy read guide - applying for a disabled person's bus pass (PDF, 931KB)
Can I apply for a disabled person's bus pass?
You can apply for a disabled person's bus pass if you have one or more of the conditions listed below. The disability should be long term or expected to last for at least 12 months.
Blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired) – Eligibility code A
You'll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- Certificate of Visual impairment (CVI) – this can be obtained from an ophthalmologist
- BD8 (issued from 1990 but replaced by CVI)
- Evidence of registration with local authority as being blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired)
- Evidence of residency at a registered home for the blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired)
- The Reason for Decision letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Tariffs 1 to 8).
If you qualify under code A, you won't need to provide supporting evidence again when you renew your pass.
Profoundly or severely deaf – > 70 dB HL (Hearing Level) in both ears – Eligibility code B
You'll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- An audiological report or aural specialist report showing level of hearing loss
- Proof of registration with a local authority
- The Reason for Decision letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Tariffs 1 to 8).
If you qualify under code B, you won't need to provide supporting evidence again when you renew your pass.
Without speech, unable to communicate orally in any language (not being able to make clear basic oral requests or ask specific questions to clarify instructions) – Eligibility code C
You'll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- Personal Independent Payments – current award letter where the applicant has been awarded at least 8 points for the ‘communicating verbally’ activity
- For a child, an Education Health Care (EHC) plan or Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
- A letter from a medical specialist.
Disability or injury which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the ability to walk – Eligibility code D
You'll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- Personal Independent Payments – current award letter where the applicant has been awarded at least 8 points for the ‘moving around’ activity
- Disabled Living Allowance for mobility at higher rate
- The Reason for Decision letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Tariffs 1 to 8)
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
- Medical evidence that the applicants walking ability is long term and substantially impaired
- Blue Badge (disability parking permit) – let us know if you have one and we can check to see if the supporting evidence meets the eligibility requirements.
Does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms – Eligibility code E
You'll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- A letter from a medical specialist / doctor’s report
- A letter from the NHS Artificial Limb Unit
- The Reason for Decision Letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Tariffs 1 to 8)
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
A medical assessment may be required.
If you qualify under code E, you won't need to provide supporting evidence again when you renew your pass.
A learning disability which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning – Eligibility code F
This includes:
- lower intellectual ability (usually an IQ of less than 70)
- significant impairment of social or adaptive functioning
- a condition which started in childhood.
Provide a copy of one of the following items:
- an Adult Care Services disability register card or other proof that you're on the Hertfordshire County Council disability register
- proof that you're known to the 0-25 Team or Adult Disability Service, or you attend a special school
- a letter from a specialist doctor, independent health professional or registered medical practitioner, confirming that you have a learning disability. It must also confirm that the disability significantly reduces your ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence), with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning). The disability must have started before adulthood
- Blue Badge (disability parking permit) – let us know if you have one and we can check your record to see if the supporting evidence meets the eligibility requirements
- Council Tax bill in your sole name indicating exemption due to severe mental impairment (class U exemption). If the bill is not in your name, we'll need confirmation from your district or borough council confirming who is eligible for the exemption.
If you qualify under code F, you won't need to provide supporting evidence again when you renew your pass.
Would be refused a licence to drive a motor vehicle due to physical fitness i.e. epilepsy, severe mental health (excludes drug and alcohol abuse) – Eligibility code G
You'll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- A letter from the DVLA indicating that your licence has been refused or revoked following an assessment
- Information from a medical professional which confirms that you would be refused a driving licence (other than alcohol / drug dependency)
- Evidence which demonstrates you have one of the disabilities or medical conditions covered by the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Any evidence you provide should be dated within the last 12 months.
A medical assessment may be required
When will I receive my bus pass?
You'll get your bus pass within 10 working days.
Do I need to renew my bus pass?
Yes, we advise you to make an application to renew your bus pass 6 weeks prior to your old pass expiring.
If you qualify under codes A, B , E and F, you won't need to provide supporting evidence again when you renew your pass.
Can I get a companion bus pass?
If you're entitled to a disabled bus pass and require significant help in boarding, moving around and getting on or off a bus, then you can apply for a companion bus pass at the same time.
This will allow you to have a companion travel with you free of charge on journeys that start in Hertfordshire or Central Bedfordshire Council area, as long as they are travelling with you for the entire journey. If you get on a bus outside of the Hertfordshire or Central Bedfordshire Council area, then your companion will have to pay for their own travel.
This is not available if you can travel alone, but only need a carer in other aspects of your life.
You're still allowed to travel free when you are alone, without a companion.
Evidence to send if you apply for a companion pass
Companion bus pass evidence required
| Companion criteria | Acceptable documents |
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Blind (severely sight impaired) or Partially sighted (sight impaired)
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You automatically qualify with Eligibility Code A evidence.
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Young person between the age of 5 and 15
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You automatically qualify with Eligibility Code A to G evidence.
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Disability Living Allowance
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- Mobility component – higher rate
- Care component – highest rate
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Personal Independence Payments
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Daily Living Activities
- Activity 7 Communicating verbally – 8 points and above
- Activity 8 Reading and understanding of signs, symbols and words – 8 points and above
- Activity 9 Engaging with other people face to face – 8 points and above
Mobility Activities
- Activity 11 Planning and following journeys – 10 points and above
- Activity 12 Moving around – 8 points and above
|
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Attendance Allowance
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Higher rate
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Other
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Letter confirming that you're unable to travel alone (and the reason) from a:
- doctor, clinician or hospital consultant
- occupational therapist
- independent health professional
- registered medical practitioner.
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Where and when can I travel?
You can use your pass at any time within Hertfordshire for free bus travel.
Within the rest of England, you can use your pass to get on a bus for free between 9.30am and 11pm weekdays, all day during the weekend and bank holidays.
You can use your pass on most London buses but you can’t use it on National Express coaches, airport services, commuter coaches and tours and excursions.
Visit Intalink and Travelline for bus timetables and route information.
What happens if I move out of Hertfordshire?
Send in your pass to the address on the back and re-apply to the local council where you have moved to.
What if my pass is damaged, lost or stolen?
It'll cost £10 to replace your bus pass.
Contact the Concessionary Travel Team on 0300 123 4050 to pay over the phone.
It's free if you have been issued a valid Crime Reference Number from the Police.