Supporting evidence required for a disabled persons bus pass
If you apply for a bus pass because you have a disability, you will need to provide proof of your disability.
Not everyone with a disability will qualify for a bus pass. There are 8 different categories of qualifying disability.
A Blue Badge for disabled parking can no longer be accepted as evidence of automatic entitlement for a concessionary bus pass.
Documents we can accept as evidence
If you qualify under more than one category, you can choose which one to apply under.
We do not take any responsibility for charges incurred when obtaining supporting evidence.
Blind or partially sighted
If you are blind or partially sighted, we will accept:
- disabled person's registration card showing that you are registered as sight impaired/blind
- a certificate of visual impairment signed by a consultant ophthalmologist
Profoundly or severely deaf
If you are profoundly or severely deaf, we will accept:
- a disabled person's registration card showing that you are registered as hearing impaired/deaf
- a copy of a supporting letter from a medical professional (for example, an aural specialist) stating that your hearing is at 70+dBHL
Without speech
If you are without speech, we will accept:
- a disabled person's registration card showing that you are registered as being without speech
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award of at least 8 points under the "communicating verbally" category
- a letter from a medical professional confirming you are unable to communicate orally in any language, this does not include slow or difficult to understand speech
If you do not have arms or have lost the use of both arms
If you do not have the use of both arms, we will accept a copy of a letter from a medical professional confirming that you have a long-term loss of the use of both arms, for example, more than 12 months.
Learning disabilities
If you have a learning disability, we will accept:
- a disabled person's registration card showing that you are registered as having a learning disability
- a copy of evidence of receiving specialist services, for example, from social services
- are receiving or have received a statement of special education needs or educational, health and care plan
Information that says that you have a learning difficulty, Aspergers Syndrome or Austism Spectrum Disorder cannot be accepted as evidence of a learning disability.
If you have been or would be refused a driving licence for medical reasons
This does not include being disqualified due to the misuse of drugs or alcohol.
We will accept a:
- recent letter from the DVLA either refusing or withdrawing your driving licence for medical reasons
- copy of other recent medical evidence confirming that if you were to apply for a driving licence you would be refused due to your current disability/medical condition, this needs to include what the condition is and how long it is likely to last
If you do hold a current DVLA licence this will need to be surrendered and a copy of the DVLA confirmation letter provided with your application.
If you have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on your ability to walk
We will accept:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award of at least 8 points under the 'moving about' activity - you will need to provide both a copy of the first page of your current award letter and the page showing the points awarded for the ‘Moving Around’ activity
- Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate mobility component of the award
- disabled person's registration card showing that you are registered as severely or appreciably disabled
Members or veterans of the Armed Services
If you are a member or veteran that was seriously injured in service, we will accept an award letter for:
- a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
- guaranteed income payment for tariff levels 1-8 under the 2005 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme