Apply for a disabled person's bus pass

You can apply online or email us if you have any further questions

Am I eligible?

You can get a free disabled person's bus pass if you live in Southend-on-Sea and:

• are blind or partially sighted
• are profoundly or severely deaf
• are without speech
• have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk
• have no arms or can not use both your arms
• have a learning disability
• would be refused a driving licence due to physical fitness (section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988). This category includes disabilities that would cause someone to be a danger to the public if they drive. For example, dementia, cardiac disorders, severe mental disorders and long-term epilepsy

You are not eligible for a free bus pass if your driving licence would be refused due to alcohol or drug misuse.

Supporting documents

Whilst filling out your online application form you will have the option to upload the following information:

A photo of yourself

This will need to be a recent colour passport style and quality photograph (35mm by 45mm). Please note that hats or sunglasses must not be worn in the photograph.

Proof of address

You will need to supply one of the following or tick the box on the application form to confirm that we can check your Council Tax records.

• driving licence
• utility bill from within the last year
• bank or credit card statement from within the last year
• Council Tax bill from within the last year

Proof of identity

• birth certificate (and marriage certificate if your name has changed)
• passport
• driving licence

Please note: You cannot use the same evidence as proof of age, that you used for proof of address. We must have 2 different forms of evidence to issue a bus pass.

All documents should be either recent (within the last 12 months) and/or should state either the expected duration of your condition, or that there is no expected improvement.

You can apply for a disabled person's bus pass, if you:

Are blind or partially sighted

Please provide one of the following:

• a copy of your Blind registration card, showing that you are registered as blind or partially sighted
• or a letter from an eye specialist confirming that you are blind or partially sighted
• Award letter from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme confirming the reason for this decision

Are profoundly or severely deaf

Please provide one of the following:

• PIP award letter dated within the last year to confirm you have a score of 8 points or more for the ‘Communication Verbally’ activity
• or an audiological report from an aural specialist indicating hearing loss has reached 70 - 95 dBHL.
• Award letter from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme confirming the reason for this decision

Are without speech

Please provide one of the following:

• evidence from the last 12 months that you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a score of at least 8 points on the 'communicating verbally' activities, for example your PIP award letter
• or a letter from a letter from a specialist doctor, independent health professional or registered medical practitioner, confirming that you are unable to make clear, basic oral requests, for example to ask for a particular destination or fare
• Award letter from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme confirming the reason for this decision

Have a walking disability

Please provide 1 of the following:

• recent evidence that you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a score of at least 8 points on the 'moving around' activities
• or recent evidence that you are in receipt of War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
• or a letter from a letter from a specialist doctor, independent health professional or registered medical practitioner, confirming that you have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk
• or a recent Disability Living Allowance (DLA) uprated letter with Higher Rate Mobility Component DLA with a period of entitlement of at least 12 months
• Proof within the last year that you are in receipt of the War Pension Mobility
• Award letter from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme confirming the reason for this decision
• If you have a Blue Badge please provide copy

Without the use of both arms

Please provide 1 of the following:

• a copy of a letter from a specialist doctor, independent health professional or registered medical practitioner, confirming that you are unable to use your arms
• Award letter from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme confirming the reason for this decision

Have a learning disability

Please provide 1 of the following:

• if you had a special education provision please provide a letter from the school to confirm this
• a letter from your specialist or GP to confirm you have a learning disability that started before adulthood that includes a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• proof dated within the last year to confirm you are in receipt of PIP with a score of 8 points or more for ‘Communicating Verbally’ activity

Would be refused a driving licence due to physical fitness

Please provide one of the following:

•  confirmation from the DVLA dated within the last year to confirm you have been refused a driving license
• or a letter from a specialist doctor, independent health professional or registered medical practitioner, confirming that you are unfit to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1998, you would have an application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (Physical fitness) other than on the grounds of persistence misuse of drugs and alcohol
• Award letter from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme confirming the reason for this decision

Companion

A copy of proof you cannot travel alone, please provide one of the following, which must be no more than 12 months old:

• evidence you receive Disability Living Allowance (DWP). This must include Higher Rate Care Component with a period of entitlement of at least 12 months
• evidence you receive attendance allowance at the higher rate
• evidence you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a score of at least 8 points on the 'moving around' and/or 'communicating verbally' activities or enhanced rate
• a letter from a doctor confirming you are unable to travel alone and the reason for this.

This is an additional concession and is non statutory, the criteria is set by Southend-on-Sea City Council).Travel by the companion with the pass holder is restricted to Southend and Essex only, from 9.00am until midnight Monday to Friday and anytime during weekends and Public Holidays.

When and where can I use my bus pass?

Find out when and where you can use your bus pass by visiting our using your bus pass page.

You cannot use your pass to for free travel on other forms of transport or public transport i.e. tubes, trains, trams, coaches, Dial-a-Ride services, community services and ferries, either within Southend or in other Districts throughout England.

The bus pass can’t be used on public services of any kind within Wales and Scotland.

Appeal process

If your application for a bus pass is declined you can appeal the decision. To do this you need to do so in writing within 28 days of getting of the decline letter. Your appeal will be reviewed by the Bus Team Leader who will look at the evidence supplied against the Department for Transport Guidelines.

Sometimes you may be asked to provide more detail in support the bus pass criteria that you are applying under. A decision will be sent to you in writing with the reasons behind it. If your appeal is declined there is no further right to appeal. Appeals should be sent to:

Bus Pass Team Leader
Customer Service Centre
Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS2 6ET

Expiry date of passes

In some cases passes will be issued for short periods and an eligibility review may need to be carried out before a new pass can be issued.

Eligible applicants will have their passes renewed automatically and you should get your new one before the old one expires. If your circumstances change before the pass expires please contact us.

Change of address

If you change your address within Southend you need to contact the bus pass department with proof of your new address. If you move away from Southend you need to return your current pass and re-apply for a new pass from the Authority in the area you are moving to.

Returned bus passes

If you no longer need your bus pass please return it to us.