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Apply for a disabled person's bus pass

Disabled Bus Pass (ENCTS)

If you live in Leicester and have a qualifying disability, you are entitled to a concessionary travel pass or an annual payment of £22 by bank transfer.

Should I choose a pass or to receive the annual payment?

You may choose either a bus pass or to receive an annual payment of £22 by bank payment.

A pass is best if you mostly travel by bus or train. The annual payment is best if you only use the buses or trains less than once month or need to travel by taxi.

What does the travel pass allow me to do?

Your pass will enable you to travel free on local buses in all parts of England, between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday - all day at weekend and bank holidays.

You are also entitled to free bus travel before 9.30am Monday to Friday, provided your journey begins in Leicester. The pass can also be used at all times on Leicester Park and Ride services. Visit the Choose how you move website for more details.

Passes are valid for free train travel at all times on train journeys between Leicester and stations in Leicestershire, and between Leicester and Derby, Nottingham, Grantham, Peterborough, Kettering and Nuneaton.

Where is my travel pass not valid?

  • Bus services outside England
  • Train travel (aside from the train services mentioned above)
  • Ferries
  • Coaches
  • Trams
  • London underground.

If you choose to receive payment by bank payment

You are entitled to a payment of £22 per year, for the year from 1 April to 31 March. Applications received between 1 of September and 31 December qualify for a reduced payment of £11.

How do I apply?

If you wish to apply for a disabled bus pass, please send us an email at [email protected] to request an application form. Please provide your full name and address details when emailing. Alternatively, you can obtain a hard copy from your local library. Find your nearest library and opening times.

You will then need to complete the application form, ensuring you provide copies of any support evidence and return it to:

  • By post: Disabled Persons’ Travel Scheme, Leicester City Council, York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FB
  • By email: scan the application form and supporting evidence and send it back via email or take clear photos of each page of the application and send it back via email to [email protected].

If you have not heard anything from us after 28 days then please email us at [email protected] with your full name, date of birth, address and your contact number so that we can get back to you.

Leicestershire County resident

If you live in Leicestershire, you will need to apply for a concessionary bus pass from Leicestershire County Council.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you are a resident in Leicester and are:

Registered as severely sight impaired (blind) or sight impaired (partially sighted) with VISTA;

You are eligible if you are:

  • Blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired)

The RNIB provide information on the criteria which is used to certify sight loss

You are not eligible if you are:

  • not entitled to be registered with VISTA

Proof of eligibility

  • Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) form completed by an ophthalmologist or Form BD8
  • Confirmation that you are registered with VISTA as blind or partially sighted
  • Evidence from an eye specialist on official paper that the applicant is registered or is registerable as blind or partially sighted

You are eligible if your hearing loss is:

  • severe or profound (greater than 70 dBHL in both ears)

You are not eligible if your hearing loss is:

  • mild or moderate (69 dBHL or less, in your better ear)

Proof of eligibility

  • Letter from audiologist or audiological report confirming the level of hearing loss in both ears.
  • Documents which demonstrate that you have hearing loss of more than 70 dBHL in both ears. These may include letters from consultants.

You are eligible if you:

  • are unable to communicate in any language orally

You are not eligible if you:

  • have speech but it is slow or difficult to understand
  • cannot speak English, but you do speak another language

Proof of eligibility

  • Letter from social services, or another appropriate organisation providing support services, stating that you are without speech.
  • Evidence that you have been awarded 8 points or more for the 'Communicating Verbally' activity of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
  • For a child, a statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that states that the child has no speech.
  • Documents which demonstrate that you are without speech. These may include letters from your consultant or GP which you may already have in your possession.
  • Completion of Section 4 (A)  of the application form, signed by a health professional confirming that you are without speech and why, and that the condition is long term or permanent.

You are eligible if you:

  • have both arms but are unable to use them to carry out day to day tasks
  • have a limb reduction deficiency of both arms
  • have bilateral upper limb amputation
  • have a medical condition or condition (muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, motor neurone disease or condition of comparable severity) which affects the use of your arms

You are not eligible if you:

  • have one arm and are able to carry out day to day tasks
  • have a temporary weakness in one or both arms

Proof of eligibility

  • Disabled person’s parking permit (Blue Badge). Your bus pass will expire at around the same time as the Blue Badge.
  • Completion of Section 4 (B) of the application form signed by a health professional or letter from your GP/consultant confirming that you are unable to use your arms to carry out day-to-day tasks and why, and that the condition is long term or permanent.
  • Documents which show that you have lost the use of your arms over the long term (12 months or more). This may include letters from your consultant or GP which you already have in your possession which describe in detail your disability.

including significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning;

You are eligible if:

  • you have a learning disability which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
  • your learning disability started before adulthood

This will include some people with conditions such as Down’s syndrome or other learning disabilities which mean that you:

  • have difficulty in understanding new and complex information, and
  • have difficulty learning new skills and,
  • may not be able to cope independently – you may be able to live on your own but may need help with some things, such as managing household bills

You are not eligible if:

  • you have dyslexia, dyspraxia or attention deficit disorder
  • your intelligence is not impaired, even if your disability affects your social functioning
  • you are studying or have studied for GCSEs (having achieved, or likely to achieve grades A*-C or 4-9), A-levels, degree courses or equivalents
  • you are applying because of mental health problems
  • your condition started after you became an adult (e.g. as the result of a brain injury)

Please note you may still qualify for a pass if your condition is so severe that you would be refused a driving licence.

Proof of eligibility

  • Information which confirms you have significant impairment of your intelligence and significant impairment of your social functioning.
  • For a child, a statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that demonstrates a significant impairment of intelligence and a significant impairment of social functioning.
  • Completion of Section 4 (C) of the application form signed by a health professional or letter from your GP/consultant confirming that you have a significant impairment of both intelligence and social functioning and why.

If someone is assessed with an IQ of 70 or below, this would be considered a significant impairment of intelligence, however an IQ score alone would not necessarily be accepted as conclusive evidence.

We will not accept a letter or other evidence that only states that the applicant has:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Asperger’s syndrome
  • Autistic spectrum disorder

You are eligible if you:

  • have uncontrolled epilepsy and your current experience of seizures means that you would not be eligible for a driving licence
  • have diabetes and have suffered more than one hypoglycaemic attack requiring the assistance of another person within the last 12 months
  • have a severe mental disorder which means you would be refused a driving licence or have your licence revoked by the DVLA
  • cannot read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with glasses)
  • are liable to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting

You may also be eligible if you:

  • have another medical condition which means you would be refused a driving licence or have your driving licence revoked by the DVLA

You are not eligible if:

  • you are refused a driving licence by the DVLA as a result of the misuse of drugs or alcohol
  • you are advised not to drive for medical reasons, or for the sake of your health, but are allowed to keep your driving licence i.e. you are recovering from surgery or because driving would make a medical condition worse
  • the reason you cannot drive is short term (less than 12 months) and you are not required to surrender your licence
  • the reason you cannot drive is because the side effects of medication that you are taking (unless your driving licence is revoked or refused because of it)
  • you suffer from mental health issues (such as anxiety or depression) which would not cause you to be refused a driving licence
  • you have a life-limiting condition or serious illness, unless you are at risk of seizures as a result

Proof of eligibility

You need to show that one of the following applies:

  • Your driving licence has been revoked on medical grounds.
  • You have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds.
  • You would be ineligible for a driving licence on medical grounds.

You can demonstrate your eligibility by providing one of the following:

  • Letter from the DVLA indicating that your driving licence has been refused or revoked following an assessment.
  • Letter from the DVLA accepting a surrendered driving licence, together with evidence of the relevant medical condition.
  • Completion of Section 4 of the application form signed by a health professional or letter from your GP/consultant confirming that you that you would be refused a driving licence (other than because of alcohol/drug dependency) and why, and that the condition is long term or permanent.
  • Evidence which demonstrates you have one of the disabilities or medical conditions which would be covered by Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This may include letters from your GP or consultant.
  • You will also need to show whether the refusal of driving licence is permanent (e.g. because of a lifelong condition) or temporary (e.g. because of an isolated seizure).

You are eligible if:

  • you are unable to walk at all
  • you rely on crutches to move due to a long term condition
  • you are unable to walk further than 64 metres without severe discomfort
  • it takes you a long time to walk a short distance e.g. taking 5 minutes to walk 100 metres
  • the exertion to walk would constitute a danger to your life or would be likely to lead to serious deterioration in your health

You are not eligible if:

  • your mobility problems are not long term (less than 12 months)
  • You are able to walk relatively normally using an artificial leg or legs

Proof of eligibility

  • Disabled person’s parking permit (qualify for a Blue Badge under walking difficulty). Your bus pass will expire at around the same time as the Blue Badge.
  • Evidence that you have been awarded 8 points or more for the ‘Moving Around’ activity of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Award letter must be dated within the last 12 months.
  • Evidence that you have been awarded the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. Award letter must be dated within the last 12 months unless it has been awarded indefinitely.
  • For a veteran, evidence of receiving War Pensioners Mobility Supplement, or the ‘Reasons for Decision’ letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
  • Completion of Section 4 (E) of the application form signed by a health professional or letter from your GP/consultant describing your disability, whether it is permanent or temporary, the expected duration and that you cannot walk more than 64 metres without severe discomfort, even when a mobility or artificial aid (e.g. crutches, walking frame, stick etc.) is used. Information as to how far you can walk without experiencing severe discomfort is helpful.


You may automatically qualify for a pass

If you have been awarded any of the following benefits for at least 12 months. You will need to provide copies of your award letter as evidence of receipt of these benefits:

  • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance;
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) indicating that you have been awarded at least 8 points for the “Moving Around” activity or at least 8 points for the “Communicating verbally” activity
  • War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

If you have been awarded a lump sum under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, you will need to provide as evidence either your Notice of Walking Disability letter or Reasons for Decision letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency or Veterans UK.

If you have a Blue Badge (Disabled Person’s Parking Permit) issued by Leicester City Council you may qualify. You will automatically qualify under the following categories only:

  • Walking disability
  • Disability in both arms
  • HRMDLA
  • War Pensioners Mobility Supplement or
  • Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

People with Blue Badges issued under PIP or Hidden disabilities may still be eligible but will need to provide additional evidence or complete the other sections of the application form.

Please note: the diagnosis of a particular condition is not normally sufficient to demonstrate eligibility; further information will be required as to how severely the condition impacts on your ability to walk or travel by bus.

If you hold a senior citizen’s bus pass and also meet the criteria for a disabled person’s pass, you can surrender it in exchange for a disabled person’s concession if you prefer.

Proof of eligibility

  • Disabled person’s parking permit (qualify for a Blue Badge under walking difficulty). Your bus pass will expire at around the same time as the Blue Badge.
  • Evidence that you have been awarded 8 points or more for the ‘Moving Around’ activity of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Award letter must be dated within the last 12 months. You will not qualify if you score these points in the ‘planning and following a journey’ activity.
  • Evidence that you have been awarded the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. Award letter must be dated within the last 12 months unless it has been awarded indefinitely. You will not qualify if you have been awarded middle or lower rate mobility.
  • For a veteran, evidence of receiving War Pensioners Mobility Supplement, or the ‘Reasons for Decision’ letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
  • Completion of Section 4 (E) of the application form signed by a health professional or letter from your GP/consultant describing your disability, whether it is permanent or temporary, the expected duration and that you cannot walk more than 64 metres without severe discomfort, even when a mobility or artificial aid (e.g. crutches, walking frame, stick etc.) is used. Information as to how far you can walk without experiencing severe discomfort is helpful.


Frequently asked questions

If your pass is lost or stolen, please email us with your full name, date of birth, address and your contact number at [email protected].

If your application has been refused, you are able to request a review. This will be carried out by someone who was independent of the original decision. You will need to contact us in writing or email within 28 days of receiving the refusal letter, giving reasons that you believe that you are eligible for a disabled concessionary pass. You may include further supporting information/medical evidence.

Applications are assessed according to the impact that your condition or disability has on your ability to make bus journeys, as detailed in the criteria laid down by government. Having a diagnosis is not normally sufficient to prove eligibility.

If you qualify under the following categories, we will renew it automatically and send your new one in the post at least four weeks before your current one runs out.

  • Blind/partially sighted
  • Profoundly or severely deaf in both ears
  • Without speech
  • Without the use of both arms
  • Learning disability

If you have a disabled person’s bus pass on the grounds of:

  • Severe walking disability
  • Likely to be refused a driving licence on medical grounds
  • Blue badge
  • In receipt of higher rate mobility of Personal independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance

You will need to re-apply for your pass and we'll send you an application form at least four weeks before the expiry date.

Please email [email protected] of any changes to your name or address.

If you’re telling us about a change of name you’ll need to email us a copy of an official document, such as a marriage certificate, as proof of your new name.

If your address has changed, you’ll need to email a copy of a utility or council tax bill as proof of your new address. Please also ensure you provide your date of birth when emailing us.