Who can get free school transport
Families receiving a qualifying low income benefit
Children of primary school age from low income families
For most children, who attend the nearest catchment or nearest appropriate school, the qualifying distance increases from two miles to three miles when they turn eight. The distance will remain two miles if either:
- They are entitled to free school meals due to their family receiving a qualifying low income benefit
- Their parents are receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit (when reduction due to income is £0.00)
Children of secondary school age from low income families
Children of secondary school age will be entitled to free transport if they:
- Go to one of three appropriate schools closest to home, between two and six miles away or
- Go to a school, preferred on grounds of religion or belief that is the nearest of its kind to their home, between two and 15 miles away and
- Are entitled to free school meals or
- Have parents who are receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit (when reduction due to income is £0.00)
Evidence to submit with your application
When you apply, you must include a scan, photocopy or screenshot of a recent letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showing that you are entitled to one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Universal Credit (where earnings element is less than £7,400 annually)
- The maximum level of Working Tax Credit (when reduction due to income is £0.00)
- Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and your annual income, assessed by HM Revenue and Customs, (does not exceed £16,190)
Download an example of a qualifying/non qualifying Working Tax Credit (PDF, 1 MB)
If you only have a Tax Credit Annual Review Notice for the current financial year, because you notified the DWP that your circumstances haven't changed since your last full Tax Credit Award, you must send a photocopy or scan of all the following information:
- Your original Tax Credit Award
- Your Annual Review notice
- Your written or emailed confirmation that you have informed the DWP that your circumstances have not changed since your last full Tax Credit Award
We cannot return original documents. Anything you send us is scanned and/or securely destroyed.
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