New Concessionary Bus Pass Scheme

Terms and conditions of a bus pass card
I am over 60 years of age. How do I apply for a bus pass?
Disabled persons - bus pass applications
How do I apply for a travel companion bus pass?
How long do bus pass card applications take to be processed?
I have lost / had my bus pass stolen. Can I have a replacement bus pass card?
I have not yet received my bus pass card. What has happened to my application?
I am moving out of the area. What do I need to do with my bus pass card?
Deceased bus pass card holders. Advice to relatives.
Documentation required. Please note: Although some types of proofs cover all three sets of criteria we will need to see two original proofs of documents together with your application form e.g. a birth certificate (proof of identity and age) and a Council Tax bill (proof of residency)

• What proofs of residency documentation do I need when applying for a Bus Pass?
• What proofs of identity documentation do I need to supply when applying for a Bus Pass?
• What proofs of age documentation do I need to supply when applying for a Bus Pass?

Disabled applicants documentation required.

• What criteria and documentation will I need to satisfy when applying for a disabled Bus Pass?

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Terms and conditions of a bus pass card.

A bus pass provides eligibility for the card holder to travel free on local buses throughout England from 08:30 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Monday to Friday and any time at weekends and Bank holidays.

Free bus pass travel is available at all times to card holders who have been registered as having a blind disability.

It is recommended that travel times outside Norfolk are checked as these may vary.

A National bus pass does not entitle the holder to free bus travel in Scotland, Wales or Ireland.

Holders cannot use the bus pas to travel on a National Express coach unless they are providing a local service.

A bus pass holder can travel as far as a local bus service can take you. For example, you could travel to London and once there the bus pass includes free off-peak local travel in London on the local London red buses.

Bus pass holders are not entitled to use their cards for any rail travel.
Persons are eligible for a bus pass at age 60 and are valid for birth date plus four years. Please note the expiry date of your bus pass card and renew your card before it expires.

Disabled bus passes applicants can be of any age providing they fulfil the set criteria. Once issued this bus pass can be valid for up to 4 years depending on the conditions of use.
Please note the expiry date of your bus pass card and renew your card before it expires.

The main, permanent residence of the applicant must be in the District of the Council to whom you are making your application. Holiday or second homes do not count as your main residence.

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I am over 60 years of age. How do I apply for a bus pass?

Persons over 60 years of age are entitled to a concessionary (free) bus pass. For this you will need to complete an application form and provide a passport sized colour photograph:

An application form (Please download an application form here)

accompanied with the following:

Provide a passport sized colour photograph. (Please download a copy of our photo guidelines.)

Facilities are available at North Norfolk District Council, Cromer Road, Norfolk, NR27 9EN to take your photograph free of charge or at our Fakenham Connect office at Oak Street, Fakenham, NR21 9DY.

Provide proof of identity e.g. a passport, driving licence, birth certificate.

Provide proof of residency e.g. a Council tax bill or a utility bill

Provide eligibility documents e.g. a passport, driving licence, birth certificate.

Original documents must be provided with all applications as photocopies are not accepted.

Your application form and original documents can be delivered personally or posted to North Norfolk District Council, Customer Services Department, Bus Pass Services, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN. If you deliver them by hand we can take your photograph free of charge and process your application personally.

Or you could personally deliver your application form and documents to our Fakenham Connect office, Oak Street, Fakenahm, NR21 9DY where we can take your photograph free of charge and process your application while you wait.

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Disabled persons - bus pass applications

A disabled applicant can be of any age.

If you are an existing bus pass card holder over 60 years of age and then become disabled there is no need for you to apply to change your bus pass card to a disabled bus pass card (unless you become registered as blind - which would then entitle you to travel at other times e.g. to local travel 24 hours a day seven days a week -subject to availability.

Please note that if you are over 60 and already have a standard bus pass and specifically wish to change this to a disabled bus pass, original disability documentation must be provided before the replacement bus pass can be issued.

Documentation for this application must include proof of your disability e.g. a current blue badge holder, or have proof of DLA (Disability Living Allowance) and mobility allowances at the higher rate, or have documentation from Social Services about your disability.

If these documents are not available you will need an application form together with the declaration on the reverse.

Please download an application form here

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How do I apply for a travel companion bus pass?

Provided you qualify within the terms and conditions relating to disability entitlements you will need an application form together with the declaration on the reverse, to allow you and a companion to travel together. Please download an application form here

Your companion will not be issued with a separate pass of their own as it is not necessary for your travel companion to be named on your Companion bus pass. The companion bus pass card will be issued to the original card holder.

Please note that an application for a companion bus pass must be requested by the original bus pass holder. If at the time of this request you already have a standard bus pass you may apply for a disabled and companion bus pass together. Your GP will still need to complete your Companion bus pass application form for you.

You can personally deliver or post your application form and original documents to North Norfolk District Council, Customer Services Department, Bus Pass Services, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN. Or you can bring them to our Fakenham Connect office at Oak Street, Fakenham, NR21 9DY. At either office we can take your photograph free of charge and process your application while you wait.

A Companion bus pass looks the same as an ordinary bus pass, except it will have a vertical orange band (like a ribbon) instead of a blue band) and a large "C" with a "+" sign inside it in the top right hand of the card

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How long do bus pass card applications take to be processed?

If you apply in person you can have your application processed at the counter, after which it usually takes two weeks to receive your bus pass in the post.

Postal applications to North Norfolk District Council usually take an additional week to be delivered to your home address.

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I have lost / had my bus pass stolen. Can I have a replacement bus pass card?

If you lose your National bus pass or have it stolen the replacement bus pass fee is £8.00 - payable in advance. A replacement bus pass will only be processed when payment for the replacement has been received. If your bus pass has been stolen and you have reported this incident, please inform us of the crime number when arranging to have your card replaced. Payment for replacement bus pass cards can be made in person at our offices at North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, NR27 9EN or at the Fakenham Connect office, Oak Road, Fakenham, NR21 9DY. You may pay by debit or credit card or by cheque made payable to North Norfolk District Council.

Alternatively you may write a letter to the Council offices requesting a replacement bus pass and by enclosing a cheque for £8.00 made payable to North Norfolk District Council.

Once we have arranged for a replacement bus pass we will not cancel your request. We will not issue a refund for the replacement bus pass fee should your original be found.

Your new bus pass will have been issued with a new and unique card reference number to activate it. If at a later date your original bus pass turns up you must destroy it as it will have been cancelled and blocked so that it cannot be used.

Your existing bus pass records and photograph will be used to request your replacement bus pass. A replacement bus pass usually takes two weeks to be received or a week longer if you are making a postal application.

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I have not yet received my bus pass card. What has happened to my application?

We can check our records to see if your application has been received and/or processed and on what date.

From receipt of your application you should allow approximately two weeks for your bus pass card to arrive by post. You need to allow a week more if you made a postal application.

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I am moving out of the area. What do I need to do with my bus pass card?

Please return your bus pass to the Council offices at:
North Norfolk District Council, Customer Services Department, Bus Pass Services, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN.

You will need to apply for a new bus pass with your new Council.

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Deceased bus pass card holders. Advice to relatives.

We sincerely appreciate being informed in these difficult circumstances - in which we would ask for a relative to return the original card holders' bus pass to the Council offices for cancellation. Please return the bus pass card to North Norfolk District Council, Customer Services Department, Bus Pass Services, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN. You may wish to advise other Council Services of any change in circumstances. Thank you.

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What proofs of residency documentation do I need when applying for a Bus Pass?

• Bank statement,
• Benefit book/award letter,
• Council tax bill,
• Driving license (both photocard and paper part of new style),
• Doctor's letter,
• Letter or statement from HMRC,
• Medical or optical prescription,
• NHS medical card,
• Pension book or utilities bill.

A credit card or a mobile phone bill will not be accepted.

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What proofs of identity documentation do I need to supply when applying for a Bus Pass?

• Passport,
• NHS card,
• Driving license (both photocard and paper part of new style),
• A statement of entitlement to a pension,
• Birth certificate (and marriage certificate where appropriate).

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What proofs of age documentation do I need to supply when applying for a Bus Pass?

• Passport,
• NHS card,
• Driving license (both photocard and paper part of new style),
• A statement of entitlement to a pension,
• Birth certificate.

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What criteria and documentation will I need to satisfy when applying for a disabled Bus Pass?

A - People who are Registered Blind.
Evidence of registration with Social Service or certificate of visual impairment.

A1- People who are partially sighted.
Evidence of registration with Social Service or a certificate of visual impairment.

B - People who are severely or profoundly deaf.
Evidence of registration with Social Services, an audio-logical report or a report from an aural specialist.

C - People who cannot Speak.
Medical Evidence - please request a Doctor's letter.

D - People who have a disability or who have suffered an injury which has a long-term effect on their ability to work.
Proof that you are receiving the higher rate mobility component of Disabled Living Allowance, or a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement or Medical evidence - please request a Doctors letter.

E - People who are without the use of both arms.
Medical Evidence - please request a Doctor's letter.

F - People who have a learning disability.
Evidence of registration with Social Services or Medical Evidence - please request a Doctor's letter.

G - People who are prohibited from driving a motor vehicle on medical grounds but not on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
Medical Evidence - please request a Doctor's letter.

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