Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an ENCTS bus pass?
2. When and where can I use my bus pass?
3. How old must I be to be entitled to a bus pass?
4. What types of disability entitle someone to a bus pass?
5. Why do I have to enter my personal details?
6. What kind of photograph is needed?
7. What documents are acceptable as proof of address?
8. What documents are acceptable as proof of age?
9. What documents are acceptable as proof of disability?
10. Can I get a new pass if my existing pass is lost or damaged?
11. How do I get a new pass if my existing pass has expired?

Question:

What is an ENCTS bus pass?

Answer:

ENCTS stands for English National Concessionary Travel Scheme which is the scheme introduced in 2008 to enable free ‘local’ bus travel for state pensioners and people with certain types and degree of disability. To use the bus system under this scheme it is essential to be in possession of a credit card sized bus pass which can be electronically checked for validity at the point of bus embarkation.

Question:

When and where can I use my bus pass?

Answer:

The ENCTS bus pass can be used for free off-peak ‘local’ travel anywhere within the UK. Normally this will be any week day 9:30am to 11:00pm and all day at weekends. It is possible that your Local Authority may allow travel before 9:30am in some cases, particularly for those who are blind or part-sighted, and in such cases may issue a pass with a visible ‘all day’ symbol and special chip-encoding to this effect. Also, at Local Authority discretion, some disability-based passes may be issued specially marked and encoded to permit the card holder to travel with a companion.

Question:

How old must I be to be entitled to a bus pass?

Answer:

Entitlement to an ENCTS bus pass on the basis of age was, originally and regardless of gender, by having reached the age at which a female could be in receipt of the state pension. Until 2010 this meant at age 60 but since then the age of female state pension entitlement has gradually been equalised with the male entitlement, which was 65, but is now, for both genders, in the process of being moved onwards to be age 66 which will be reached by October 2020. This will change again in the years to come with the state pension age being set to be 68 by 2039. The website will check your bus pass entitlement date based on your date of birth and tell you if your application is too early. Note it is also possible to qualify for the bus pass on the basis of disability and in these cases the bus pass can be applied for from the age free bus travel for a child in general ceases.

Question:

What types of disability entitle someone to a bus pass?

Answer:

When applying online on the basis of disability a list of types will be presented for the applicant to select as appropriate. Normally this list will specify sight, hearing or speech impairment, mobility limitations, loss of (or use of) both arms, learning difficulties or being unable to drive on medical grounds. Proof of existence and extent of these disabilities is required and it will be necessary to photograph/scan and upload an appropriate document, such as a Certificate of Visual Impairment or, for example, a PIP Award minimum 8 points benefit statement. A list of suitable documents for upload will be presented based on the type of disability indicated by the applicant.

Question:

Why do I have to enter my personal details?

Answer:

The ENCTS bus pass is a potentially valuable benefit aimed at particular sections of society - Older Persons and those with certain disabilities. Consequently it is important to establish identity and verify entitlement, hence the personal details being requested here. Note the same information would be required if applying by alternative methods such as by post or in person.

Question:

What kind of photograph is needed?

Answer:

The ENCTS bus pass includes a photograph of the cardholder. This photo needs to be a head and shoulders identity photo typical of the kind of photo required for a passport. The website will enable you to import a photo that is already stored on your computer or take a photo via webcam or via the inbuilt camera if using a mobile device. Having captured the image the site provides the functionality to rotate it, if necessary, into an upright position and to crop it into the head and shoulders format.

Question:

What documents are acceptable as proof of address?

Answer:

The scanned/photographed document needs to be such as a bank statement, driving licence, recent utility bill or current council tax bill. The section of document must show clearly what type of document it is (up to three separate document images can be uploaded) and contain a date to show when it was issued and your name and address must be printed as opposed to being handwritten. It can be a photo file (typically jpg format) or an image or images included within a pdf or Word document.

Question:

What documents are acceptable as proof of age?

Answer:

The scanned/photographed document needs to be such as a birth certificate, driving licence, passport or letter confirming entitlement to state pension. The section of document must show clearly what type of document it is (up to three separate document images can be uploaded) and contain a date to show when it was issued and your name and address must be printed as opposed to being handwritten. It can be a photo file (typically jpg format) or an image or images included within a pdf or Word document.

Question:

What documents are acceptable as proof of disability?

Answer:

The scanned/photographed document needs to be such as a certificate of visual impairment if blind or part-sighted, appropriate PIP award at least 8 points or HRMC of DLA benefit statements, a Blue Badge, a medical practitioner’s report etc. The section of document must show clearly what type of document it is (up to three separate document images can be uploaded) and contain a date to show when it was issued and your name and address must be printed as opposed to being handwritten. It can be a photo file (typically jpg format) or an image or images included within a pdf or Word document.

Question:

Can I get a new pass if my existing pass is lost or damaged?

Answer:

Applying for a new pass when an existing pass is lost or damaged is referred to within this system as a Replacement pass. Whether or not this type of application is possible via this website is at the discretion of your Local Authority. Almost immediately after selecting Apply Online on this site you will be asked to choose Application Type and if online Replacement applications are possible then the option to choose Replacement will be available here.

Question:

How do I get a new pass if my existing pass has expired?

Answer:

Applying for a new pass when an existing pass has expired or is soon to expire is referred to within this system as a Renewal pass. Whether or not this type of application is possible via this website is at the discretion of your Local Authority. Almost immediately after selecting Apply Online on this site you will be asked to choose Application Type and if online Renewal applications are possible then the option to choose Renewal will be available here. After choosing Renewal you will be asked to enter the long 18-digit pass number printed on the front of your existing card.