Telford and Wrekin Council’s Concessionary Travel Scheme offers several travel concessions to permanent residents of the borough who are age-eligible or have a disability and qualify under the Department for Transport criteria. 

The scheme includes the English Concessionary Travel Pass, which allows free travel on local bus services throughout England between 9.30am and 11pm on Mondays to Fridays, and at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Please note: Local bus services do not include booked excursions or long-distance coach travel, such as provided by National Express. Neither does it cover rail-replacement journeys.
You may qualify for a bus pass based on your age or disability – please see the tabs on age-related and disability related for details on eligibility and how to reply.

Last updated : 11 July 2025

If you live permanently in the Telford & Wrekin borough you qualify for an age-related bus pass once you have reached State Pension age.  You can check your State Pension age at www.gov.uk/state-pension-age 

The quickest way to apply is online.  To do this you will need to upload a passport style photograph which is focused on your face and is in colour. You can take the photograph on your digital device e.g. phone or tablet.

This process will use Experian to authenticate your age and address but does not form part of a credit check.

Apply online for a concessionary bus pass

If you are unable to complete our online application form you can attend one of the libraries detailed below to pick up a Concessionary Bus Pass application form for you to complete. 

You will need to take with you the following:

  • A passport style photograph which is focused on your face and is in colour (the library team can take the photograph for you).
  • Proof of address (driving licence, utility bill from within the last year, a bank or credit card statement, Council Tax bill from within the last year).
  • Proof of age (passport, birth certificate or driving licence) 

You can pick up an application, have a photograph taken and submit proof of your address and age at the following libraries: 

  • Madeley Community Library
  • Newport Community Library
  • Southwater Library
  • Wellington Library

Please note that some of these libraries have opening hours with both self-service only times and staffed hours. Please attend them during staffed hours if you would like to pick up a paper application form or have your photograph taken. 

View the opening hours and contact details of our libraries

If you are unable to complete the online form or attend one of the libraries please contact the Concessionary Travel Team on 01952 383867.

Companion Bus Pass

If you are unable to travel without assistance, you may be entitled to a special travel pass called a companion pass (or sometimes referred to as +C) that entitles a companion to travel with you for free. Travel for your companion will be restricted to journeys that start within the Telford and Wrekin area, and the usual time restrictions will apply.  You can indicate on the online form or the form you pick up from the library if you would like to be considered for a companion pass.

A companion pass will be considered if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You are blind or partially sighted
  • You receive the High Rate of Disability Living Allowance Care component.
  • You receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award – with either 12 points for the “moving around activity” or 10 points or more for the “planning and following a journey”
  • You receive a PIP award with 8 points or more for daily living activities under one of the following categories “communicating verbally”, “reading and understanding signs, symbols and words” and “engaging with other people face to face”
  • Attendance Allowance award at the higher rate. 

To enable us to consider a companion pass you will need provide evidence of the above for example proof of registration as blind or partially sighted with the Council, proof of certificate of vision impairment (CVI) signed by a consultant ophthalmologist (eye specialist) or copy of Department for Work and Pensions award letter.

If you don’t qualify under the above criteria but have a medical condition that prevents you from travelling independently, you may still make an application for a companion pass.  You will need to provide a letter on headed paper from a medical professional clearly confirming a specified medical condition that prevents independent travel.

If you are awarded a Companion Bus Pass your pass will include a “+C”.

Renewals of age-related bus passes

Age-related bus pass renewals are now processed automatically and will be sent directly to your home within 30 days of your current bus pass expiry date.  Please ensure you let the Concessionary Travel Team know if you have moved address.

Lost, damaged or stolen bus passes

If you wish to replace a lost, damaged or stolen bus pass, please call the Concessionary Travel team on 01952 383867. There is a £10 charge to cover the costs of replacing a bus pass. Stolen cards will be replaced free of charge on production of a valid police crime reference number.

Last updated : 11 July 2025

You may be eligible for a Disabled Bus Pass if you are a permanent resident within the Telford & Wrekin Borough and you have one of the following disabilities:

Category Evidence
(a) Blind or partially sighted
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Proof of registration as blind or partially sighted with the Council; or
  • Proof of certificate of vision impairment (CVI) signed by a consultant ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
(b) Profoundly or severely deaf
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Proof of dB Hearing Level of 70 or above e.g. an audiological report or report from an aural specialist.

(c) Without speech
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Medical evidence
(d) Have a disability, or injury, which has substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk 
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Medical evidence
(e) Have no arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Medical evidence
(f) Have a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind, which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning  
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Medical evidence
  • Evidence from Social Services
(g) A medical condition which prevents obtaining or holding a UK driving licence under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 under Section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) on grounds other than the persistent mis-use of drugs or alcohol. 
  • Proof of automatic qualification *; or
  • Letter from DVLA if you already have one
  • Medical Evidence stating condition that prevents obtaining or holding a UK driving licence.

Automatic Eligibility for Disabled Bus Pass

Eligibility for a concessionary travel pass may be considered automatically if you receive one of the following benefits:

  • Disability Living Allowance with Mobility component at Higher Rate
  • Personal Independent Payment (PIP) 8 points or more of the “moving around” and/or “communicating verbally” activities
  • War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS)

You can apply online and upload a photograph and evidence of your identity, address and disability.

Apply online for a concessionary bus pass

If you are unable to complete our online application form you can attend one of the libraries detailed below to pick up a Concessionary Bus Pass application form for you to complete.

You will need to take with you the following:

  • A passport style photograph which is focused on your face and is in colour (the library team can take the photograph for you).
  • Proof of address (driving licence, utility bill from within the last year, a bank or credit card statement, Council Tax bill from within the last year).
  • Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate or driving licence)
  • Proof of your disability (details are contained within the table above)

You can pick up an application, have a photograph taken and submit proof of your address and age at the following libraries: 

  • Madeley Community Library
  • Newport Community Library
  • Southwater Library
  • Wellington Library

Please note that some of these libraries have opening hours with both self-service only times and staffed hours. Please attend them during staffed hours if you would like to pick up a paper application form or have your photograph taken.

View the opening hours and contact details of our libraries

If you are unable to complete the online form or attend one of the libraries please contact the Concessionary Travel Team on 01952 383867.

Companion Bus Pass

If you are unable to travel without assistance, you may be entitled to a special travel pass called a companion pass (or sometimes referred to as +C) that entitles a companion to travel with you for free.  Travel for your companion will be restricted to journeys that start within the Telford and Wrekin area, and the usual time restrictions will apply.  You can indicate on the online form or the form you pick up from the library if you would like to be considered for a companion pass.

A companion pass will be considered if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You are blind or partially sighted
  • You receive the High Rate of Disability Living Allowance Care component.
  • You receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award – with either 12 points for the “moving around activity” or 10 points or more for the “planning and following a journey”
  • You receive a PIP award with 8 points or more for daily living activities under one of the following categories “communicating verbally”, “reading and understanding signs, symbols and words” and “engaging with other people face to face”
  • Attendance Allowance award at the higher rate. 

To enable us to consider a companion pass you will need provide evidence of the above for example proof of registration as blind or partially sighted with the Council, proof of certificate of vision impairment (CVI) signed by a consultant ophthalmologist (eye specialist) or copy of Department for Work and Pensions award letter.

If you don’t qualify under the above criteria but have a medical condition that prevents you from travelling independently, you may still make an application for a companion pass.  You will need to provide a letter on headed paper from a medical professional clearly confirming a specified medical condition that prevents independent travel.

If you are awarded a Companion Bus Pass your pass will include a “+C”.

Renewals for disabled bus pass holders

Disability-related bus pass holders will be issued with a letter to request re-application at least six weeks before the expiry date of their current pass. Details of how to renew it will be included within the letter.

Lost, damaged or stolen bus passes
If you wish to replace a lost, damaged or stolen bus pass, please call the Concessionary Travel team on 01952 383858. There is a £10 charge to cover the costs of replacing a bus pass. Stolen cards will be replaced free of charge on production of a valid police crime reference number.

Other concessions available

If you choose not to take up an English Concessionary Travel Pass and are disabled or mobility-impaired, you may still choose one of the following concessions:

  •  A Disabled Persons Railcard offers up to one-third discount off most national rail travel for £20 for a year. If you chose this option, we could provide a discounted voucher of 20%, which would bring the cost of your rail card to £16.00 
  • Dial-a-Ride offers a door-to-door service for residents who cannot access conventional public transport due to mobility problems.

Telford & Wrekin Council | Dial-a-Ride

Last updated : 11 July 2025