Apply for a disabled person's bus pass
Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for and renew a disabled person’s 'orange stripe' bus pass
- Who can apply
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Residents of Hampshire (not including Southampton and Portsmouth) applying because of a disability. There is no upper age restriction for the disabled person's bus pass. You are eligible if you are 5 or above and meet any of these criteria:
- are blind or partially sighted
- are profoundly or severely deaf
- are without speech
- have a disability, or injury, which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk
- have no arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms
- have a severe learning disability, including an arrested state of development from birth. See information in section 3
- would be refused a driving licence due to physical fitness (section 92 of the Road Transport Act 1988)
- are a member or veteran of the Armed Services who has been seriously injured in service
If you meet either of these criteria, you will need to apply by post:
- DVLA long term refusal or withdrawal of driving licence on medical grounds (at least 12 months)
- persons in residential accommodation
- Documents you need to provide
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You will need to provide one of the following as evidence of your disability, your name and Hampshire address must be the same as provided on your application and your evidence:
- Hampshire County Council Blue Badge number or please provide the issuing authority name and the badge number to allow us to check your record
- award letter for the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
- award letter for a War Pensioners Mobility Allowance
- award letter for guaranteed income payment for tariff levels 1-8 under the 2005 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- a copy of your letter from the DVLA giving notice of long-term refusal or withdrawal of driving licence on medical grounds
- if the DVLA letter is not available provide a healthcare professional's medical evidence which states reasons that you are unable to drive
- Note: would, if applied for a driving licence, be refused under Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, for misuse of drugs or alcohol are not covered by the definition of disabled person
- full award letter for personal independence payment (PIP) where you have been awarded at least 8 points or more for the PIP "Moving Around" or "Communicating Verbally" activities (let us know if you receive 8 points or more for other categories)
- audiology evidence demonstrating severe hearing loss – 70-95 dB OR registered with HCC Deaf Services as Deaf (BSL British Sign Language)
- Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
The types of disability which should enable you to claim the statutory minimum bus travel concession are those which are permanent, or which have lasted at least 12 months.
- Learning disability - Easy read help
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Information about bus passes and application form for people who have learning disabilities.
- Apply for a bus pass
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The link at the bottom of this section will enable you to apply on-line OR print a paper application form indicated below to apply manually. Before you go any further please read the following information which is important to your application.
If you apply on behalf of a child aged 5 or above, the evidence you submit needs to show the child's name. Children school or hospital appointment letters are acceptable for proof of address.
You will need to provide
- a recent, colour, passport sized photograph of yourself, (if applying by post print your name and date of birth on the back). Your photograph, which must show your head and shoulders only, be without head gear (except on religious or medical grounds) and be front facing and alone, will be printed on the bus pass so that you can be identified as the pass holder when travelling. We cannot accept photographs that are obscured or marked.
- proof of Hampshire address (e.g. copy of your driving licence or if dated in the last 12 months a utility bill
If you don’t have the above documents, you will need to provide alternative evidence. Your name and address must be the same as provided on your application form.
You must also provide your evidence of disability
Upon receipt we will review your application and if successful the bus pass will be posted to you within 10 working days. We will contact you if further information is required.
Please note the 'Apply for a bus pass' link below will take you to an online process for a disabled person’s bus pass and cannot accept applications for a companion pass. You will need to visit our Disabled person's bus pass plus companion page if you are applying for a companion bus pass.
If you need to update further evidence to your online application re-visit the My Bus Pass website and log in using the seven digit reference number as your username and using the password you supplied when making your original application.
To apply by post, send a completed application form and all the relevant documents to the Bus Pass Team: PO Box 696, Fareham, PO14 9PD.
Please do not send original documents, they will not be returned to you.
- When you can use your bus pass
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The disabled person’s bus pass entitles you to:
- free all day travel on bus services on journeys starting in Hampshire (not Portsmouth and Southampton) regardless of where you are travelling to.
- free travel between 9:30am to 11pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays on bus services throughout the rest of England (including London)
- use your bus pass on Park and Ride services registered as local bus services (you must still pay for the parking).
For more information about community services in your area, please use Connect: Community Transport in Hampshire.
- Restrictions
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Disabled person’s bus passes are not valid on:
- reserved seat services i.e. coaches
- temporary services running for less than six weeks (e.g. for special events)
- taxis, rail services, ferries, shopmobility, voluntary car schemes and the Hedge End Park Minibus Service
- Community Transport services
- Is your bus pass due to expire
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If you have changed address without notifying the bus pass team, complete the change of address form, or email [email protected] or call 0300 555 1376. You will need evidence of your new address.
If you have not received a new pass by the expiry date of your current pass please email or call the bus pass team.
- Renewing your bus pass
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Hampshire County Council Disabled person’s bus passes are automatically reissued two weeks prior to the expiry date of the current one. If your pass is not automatically reissued this means you either need to confirm your address or to provide updated proof of disability before your bus pass can be reissued. When you renew your bus pass online you will be asked to upload documents showing evidence of your address or disability.
Please inform the bus pass team if your appearance, address or circumstances has changed as you do have an option to change your current concession if needed. Also notify us if the person for whom the pass has been issued, no longer needs it.
If you are unable to upload your evidence this can be emailed to [email protected] or post a copy of your evidence to Bus Pass Team, PO Box 696 Fareham PO14 9PD. Please include the following information: bus pass number, name and old address and the details of new address, telephone number and email address if you have one.
There are exceptions to the automatic renewal process, for example, when the pass has been issued to children during their educational years. Once education is completed disability evidence is required for the continued use of the concessionary travel scheme.
Other exceptions could include passes issued to adults for a limited period because of a temporary (12 months) driving licence refusal or non-permanent medical conditions.
Should your circumstances, address or appearance alter before expiry of your current bus pass please contact this office as soon as possible on [email protected]
If you are moving into Hampshire you will need to apply as a new customer.
- Moving house
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If you are moving out of Hampshire email [email protected] to tell us. You will need to apply to your new authority to replace your bus pass.
If you have moved into Hampshire, and are currently using a previous authority bus pass, you will need to apply as a new customer to Hampshire County Council.
Hampshire County Council bus pass holders who move house since the issue of the current pass are reminded to advise the County Council of their new address by completing the change of address notification form (for current Hampshire County Council customers only). You need to:
- complete the online change of address form
- provide evidence of your new address - this can be a copy of your driving licence, a utility bill dated within the last 12 months or an official letter with a recognised letterhead showing your address dated within the last 12 months.
There are three different ways to submit your evidence. Your evidence can be:
- uploaded when you complete the online change of address form (photos of documents are accepted)
- emailed to us at [email protected] as an attachment, ensuring you include your name, OLD address and the new address in the email
- posted to Bus Pass Team, PO Box 696 Fareham PO14 9PD ensuring you include a note with your name and OLD address details with your new address evidence.
You will NOT receive a new bus pass when your current bus pass expires unless this evidence is provided.
- Lost, damaged or stolen pass
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If your pass is not scanning it is likely that the internal electronic chip has been damaged and means you will need to pay for a replacement pass.
If you believe your bus pass is lost or stolen:
- contact the bus company to ask if someone has handed it in
- check your home and personal belongings. Many customers find their pass after they report it missing
The cost of a replacement pass is £18. Your lost pass is cancelled when payment is taken for a replacement and refunds cannot be made if your pass is subsequently found. Bus drivers will withdraw cancelled passes.
If the pass has been stolen, the replacement is free if you reported the crime to the police. We will ask for the crime reference number.
We will send the replacement pass to you within 10 working days.
For Hampshire County Council customers only
Apply by credit or debit card
If your address has changed since your current bus pass was issued, please advise the Bus Pass Team of your new address by completing the change of address notification form before ordering your replacement bus pass. Allow 5 working days before applying for a new bus pass, to allow time for your address details to be updated.
Replace a lost, damaged or stolen bus pass
Apply by post
To apply and pay by post, print out and complete the application form.
Send it to us with a cheque or postal order for £18 made payable to Hampshire County Council. Write your name and date of birth on the back of the cheque. A photo is not required, but you can send a new one if you want to.
IMPORTANT: If you have moved address since your current bus pass was issued and have not notified the County Council of the new details, then you need to submit an online change of address notification form before posting your concessionary bus pass replacement application form to us with your payment of £18.
Post to:
Bus Pass Team
PO Box 696
FAREHAM
PO14 9PD