Disabled travel pass
Eligibility for a disabled travel pass
You are eligible for a disabled travel pass if:
- You are a Norfolk resident
- You are five years old or above
- You have a permanent disability or a disability lasting at least 12 months
You are eligible for a disabled travel pass if your disability falls into one of these categories:
- People who are blind or partially sighted
- People who are profoundly or severely deaf in both ears
- People who cannot speak
- People who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a long-term effect on their ability to walk
- People who are without use of both arms
- People who have a learning disability that includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning. These disabilities must have started before adulthood and have a lasting effect on development. Autism, Asperger's and learning difficulties (such as Dyslexia and ADHD) are not covered by this definition.
- People who have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds. This must be for any reason other than persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
You are automatically eligible for a disabled travel pass if:
- You have been issued with a Blue Badge
- You receive higher rate mobility component of the disability living allowance benefits
- You receive war pensioner's mobility supplement benefits
- You receive personal independence payment (PIP) benefits (with an award of eight points or more for the moving around or communicating activities)
For further details, see the Department for Transport's guidance to Local Authorities on assessing eligibility.
If you have moved to Norfolk from another English county, your pass is still valid. However, we recommend you apply for a new travel pass from Norfolk County Council.
If you have moved to Norfolk from Scotland, Wales or Ireland, your pass is not valid. You must apply for a new travel pass.
Companion pass
If you need help to access and travel on public transport, you may be entitled to a companion pass.
A companion pass allows one other person to travel with you for free in Norfolk.
To be eligible for a companion pass you must:
- Be unable to walk to a bus stop
- Be unable to get on or off a bus without help
Learn more about the companion enhancement and how to apply.
What a disabled travel pass entitles you to
Where you can use your disabled travel pass
A disabled travel pass entitles you to free travel on all local bus services throughout England. This includes:
- London buses
- Rural services (such as Coasthopper)
When you can use your disabled travel pass
In Norfolk
A disabled travel pass entitles you to free bus travel in Norfolk:
- On all local bus services
- At any time of day
Park and Ride
A disabled travel pass entitles you to a discounted rate on Park and Ride services in Norfolk. It is £2 for a day ticket.
Outside of Norfolk
A disabled travel pass entitles you to free bus travel outside of Norfolk:
- Monday to Friday: On all off-peak services (from 9.30am until the last bus of the day)
- Saturday and Sunday: On all services at all times
- Bank Holidays: On all services at all times
You should check for local travel variations if using your pass outside of the Norfolk County Council area.
Companion pass
If you are eligible for a companion pass, your travel pass entitles one other person to travel with you for free.
Companion passes are only valid for journeys that start in Norfolk. If your journey takes you to another county, your companion may have to pay to return to Norfolk.
The companion will need to pay for their travel on any journeys that start outside Norfolk.
Learn more about the companion pass.
What a disabled travel pass does not entitle you to
Disabled travel passes are not valid:
- On trains
- On national coach services (such as National Express)
- In Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
How to apply for a disabled travel pass
Online application
When applying online, the details and evidence you provide gets manually checked to verify them.
Apply online for a new disabled travel pass
We encourage you to apply online. If you can't apply online, you can use a paper copy of the application form.
Paper copies of the disabled travel pass application form
You can get a paper copy of the disabled travel pass application form from any Norfolk library.
What you need to provide
A photograph of yourself
You must supply a photograph of yourself for a new application.
If applying online, you can take a photo at the time of applying with a webcam or you can upload one from your computer. Photo files should be in a jpeg format and no larger than 4mb each.
Instructions and examples of suitable photos are on the form and in our photo guidance.
We accept legible photographs as well as scans.
Proof of identity
You must supply proof of identity. This must clearly show your name and date of birth.
Proof of identify can include your:
- Birth certificate
- Driving licence with a photograph
- Driving licence without a photograph
- Passport
- Letter from the pension service (Previously known as pension book or statement of entitlement to pension)
Proof of address
You must supply proof of address. This must be no more than 12 months old.
Proof of address can include a:
- Bank statement
- Benefit award letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (Previously known as Benefit book)
- Council tax bill
- Driving licence with a photograph
- Driving licence without a photograph
- Letter or statement from HMRC
- Medical or optical prescription
- Letter from the pension service (Previously known as pension book or statement of entitlement to pension)
- Utilities bill (not a credit card or mobile phone bill)
Do not upload confidential information such as bank statements without masking account details and values. We accept screenshots of e-billing emails.
Supporting evidence for your disability
You must provide supporting evidence of your disability.
Supporting evidence for your disability can include:
- Blue Badge
- Disability living allowance (higher rate mobility) (Previously known as disability allowance - higher rate)
- Epilepsy (DVLA letter or evidence from a medical professional). This must confirm a seizure within the last 6 months.
- Learning disability evidence. This must be from a professional such as a specialist, a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) worker or a social worker.
- Medical evidence from a suitable professional to show how your disability falls into the eligibility categories
- Social services registered blind
- Social services registered partially blind
- War pensioner mobility supplement letter
- Personal independence payment (PIP) (with an award of eight points or more for the moving around or communicating activities). Please note: this option is not currently available on the online application form. Contact us directly if you wish to use this as your supporting evidence.
Your proof of address and supporting evidence for your disability can be the same document.
For online applications, scanned document files should be in a PDF format and be no larger than 4mb each.
If you are posting documents, please send copies. Do not send original documents.
Companion pass
If you need help to access and travel on public transport, you may be entitled to a companion pass.
Find out how to apply for a companion pass.
When your disabled travel pass will arrive
Learn more about when you will receive your travel pass after applying.
Renewing your disabled travel pass
If we issued you a travel pass that is valid for four years, we will automatically renew your pass every four years. You will receive your renewed pass before your current pass expires.
We will contact you via email or letter to tell you if your four-year pass will not be renewed automatically.
If we issued you a travel pass that is valid for less than four years, you must contact us to renew it.
If your renewed travel pass gets sent to the wrong address
You must notify us and send proof of identity/address if your details or circumstances change, such as a change in address.
If you do not notify us at least four weeks before your pass is due to expire, your renewed pass may go to the wrong address. If so, you must pay £13 for us to update your details and reissue the pass to your new address.
Easy Read information about disabled travel passes
We aim to provide information in ways that are accessible to everybody.
We do not currently have an Easy Read version of disabled travel pass guidance. We know that this may cause problems for some people.
We are working to create Easy Read guidance, which you can access online when it is available.
If you need help with understanding this information, please contact us.
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