If you live in Cornwall and you are an older person or have a permanent disability you may be able to get a bus pass. It is important that you apply for the category of pass that best suits you.
Am I eligible for a disabled bus pass?
The types of disability which enable people to apply for a disabled persons bus pass are:
- permanent disabilities or a disability which have lasted or is likely to last at least twelve months and
- a disability which has a big effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities
The eligibility categories below are in line with statutory guidance. This has been issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) under Section 146 of the Transport Act 2000.
Am I eligible for an older person's bus pass?
You are eligible for a bus pass when you reach state pension age. You can check the exact date that you will become eligible using the GOV.UK website.
Evidence you need to provide
Please find below the evidence you need to provide for each category. You can also download the Eligibility criteria for bus pass document.
Please do not send original documents as we cannot guarantee being able to send these back to you.
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- Information from your Optician/Doctor that the applicant is known to be blind or partially sighted
- A letter from Social Services showing that you are registered as blind or have problems with your vision
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- Evidence from your hearing specialist or doctor that the applicant is or could be registered as profoundly or severely deaf.
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- Evidence from a medical professional that you are without speech
- Social Services registration as a disabled person
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- Letter from your medical professional which states that you can not walk up to 100m.
- Disability Living Allowance with higher rate mobility component. The official letter must not be older than 12 months and shows the period awarded
- Letter from Social Services confirming registration as disabled person.
- War pension (Mobility supplement)
- Current Blue badge parking permit (photocopy of both sides)
- Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax disc) exemption certificate
- Personal Independence Payments - you must have at a total of 8 points in either Moving Around or Communicating. Or a combination of both.
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- Evidence from a medical professional confirming that you have lost the use of both arms
- Letter from Social Services confirming registration as disabled person
- Your Disability Living Allowance letter which shows higher rate mobility. Your letter must be no older than 12 months and show the period awarded
Cornwall Council accepts the following proof only:
A letter from either your Medical Professional or from Social Services. This must confirm that you have a learning disability. This letter will need to explain that:
- You have a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind. This includes significant impairment of intelligence and social function. Your condition must have a large effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
- Or, you have a reduced ability to understand new or difficult information. This includes having difficulty in learning new skills and being able to cope alone. Your condition will have started before you were an adult. It also has a direct effect on your development and ability to carry out normal daily activities.
Please note: Letters which state 'learning difficulty' will not be accepted.
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- A letter from a medical professional confirming the medical condition. It must also confirm why at present, this would cause a driving licence to be refused or withdrawn.
- Letter from the DVLA giving notice of refusal or withdrawal of licence (must be dated within the last 12 months and all pages of the letter must be sent)
Cornwall Council requires one type of the following items of proof:
- Birth Certificate
- Department for Work and Pensions letter confirming state retirement pension
- Driving Licence
- NHS medical card
- Optical/medical prescription
- Retirement card (Pink)
- Passport
