Disabled bus passes are available to people who have a qualifying permanent disability. They are also available for people with a qualifying disability lasting at least 12 months.
A concessionary travel pass entitles you to free travel on all off-peak services (from 9.30am until the last bus of the day) Monday to Friday and at all times during weekends and Bank Holidays. If you are using your pass outside of the Norfolk County Council area, please check for local travel variations.
Some rural services in Norfolk will accept concessionary travel passes before 9.30am on weekdays.
Blind and partially sighted people are able to travel at any time of the day and some companions can travel for free. Visit the disabled travel enhancements page for further details.
You are entitled to a disabled concessionary travel pass from Norfolk County Council if you are a Norfolk resident of bus fare paying age (five years old+) and have a permanent disability or one lasting at least 12 months.
Your eligibility for a disability-related travel pass is considered ‘automatic’ if you have been issued with a ‘Blue Badge’ or are in receipt of the following benefits:
You are also eligible if your disability falls into one of the following seven categories:
For further details, see the Department for Transport's guidance to Local Authorities on assessing eligibility (pdf 75.6k).
You will need to supply a photograph for a new application.
You can take a photo at the time of applying with a webcam or you can upload one from your computer. Instructions and examples of suitable photos are included on the form.
You will also need to have proof of ID, Address and supporting evidence for your disability;
Sometimes an online application can be deferred. This means that the system was unable to verify you. You should receive an email to let you know that this has happened.
This does not necessarily mean that you are not eligible.
An application could be deferred because:
To continue with your application
If you applied too early try again later.
If this is your first concessionary pass, email us with the following information:
We aim to process your application within 10 working days of receiving your form.
Once processed, passes are usually sent to your home address within five to 10 working days.
If you have applied prior to your date of eligibility then your new pass will be delivered up to ten working days before your eligibility date.
If you have requested a renewal of your travel pass then a new card will be with you up to two days before your current card expires.
If you were issued a pass that is valid for four years within Norfolk then you should automatically receive a new concessionary bus pass before your current pass expires. If you were issued a concessionary pass valid for less than four years then you can complete a disabled persons application for a concessionary travel pass.
If your details or circumstances change, let us know at least four weeks before your current pass is due to expire.
If we send a concessionary travel pass to a previous address that we have for you, then you will also need to pay £13 to update your details and reissue a pass to the correct address, if you still require one.
Cheques should be made payable to Norfolk County Council.
The concessionary pass is valid for free travel on all local bus services throughout England. This includes London buses and rural services, such as Coasthopper.
Pass holders are also entitled to a discounted rate of £1.80 return on park and ride services in Norfolk after 9.30am and £1.50 after 12 midday.
The pass is not valid on trains or national coach services, such as National Express.
The pass is not valid in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
If you need assistance to access and travel on public transport, you may be entitled to the companion enhancement to your pass.
To be eligible for a companion pass you must be unable to walk to a bus stop, or get on or off a bus without assistance.
Companion passes are only valid for journeys in Norfolk, if your journey takes you to another county your companion may have to pay to return to Norfolk.
This will allow you one companion who can also travel for free with you for any journeys that start in Norfolk.
The companion will need to pay for their travel on any journeys that start outside Norfolk. Visit the disabled travel enhancements page for further details.
Replacement passes are only printed for passes which were issued within the Norfolk district.
If you are now living in Norfolk after previously receiving a pass from another county you need to apply for a new pass. If you need a replacement pass for a county other than Norfolk, contact your local council.
If your card was due to expire within the next two months then we may be able to send a replacement pass free of charge.
Otherwise replacement passes for lost, stolen or damaged cards will cost £13, which is payable in advance. Note that this fee is not refundable should a lost pass be found at a later date. We do not require a new photo. Cheques and postal orders must be made out to Norfolk County Council.
Passes can be rejected by a ticket machine for the following reasons.
Invalid: A red light flashes and the machine states “Invalid” or “No Valid Ticket” – this could be because the pass is being used outside of valid off-peak times or the pass has expired. The expiry date is printed on the card. Expired passes will not be accepted for free travel and customers need to renew their bus pass.
Hotlisted: A red light flashes and the machine states “Hotlisted” or “Blocked”. This is a card that has been cancelled by Norfolk County Council. It may have been reported lost or stolen. Hotlisted cards are not valid for travel and drivers are instructed to take the card out of circulation. Customers who believe they are entitled can apply for a replacement card.
Damaged: No light flashes and the machine does not recognise the card at all. This means that the electronic chip in the card has been damaged. Damaged cards need to be replaced. If the card is visually acceptable, ie the card is in date and the photo matches the customer, drivers are currently allowed to manually record the pass and allow travel. Drivers will advise you to order a replacement card as you could be refused travel in the future. There is a £13 administration fee for replacement cards. If you need to order a replacement card as it is not recognised on the bus, but you believe that your card is undamaged, you can return the pass to us with a covering letter to:
Concessionary Travel
Norfolk County Council
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2SG
Your card will be tested and if the card is found to be faulty but undamaged then the £13 charge will be refunded.
If your details change, tell us as soon as possible so we can send you any updates and information about your pass.
If you don’t let us know at least four weeks before your current pass is due to expire and we send a pass to a previous address that we have for you, then you’ll also need to pay £13 to update your details and reissue a pass to the correct address if you still require a pass.
If your pass is due to expire within six months and you need to update your photograph on your account this can be done free of charge by either emailing or posting in a new one. If your pass is valid for more than six months and you want to change your photograph there will be a £13 admin fee.
If you’re paying by cheque, make it payable to Norfolk County Council.
If your name has changed then your present concessionary travel card remains valid and you can continue to use your card until the expiry date. To update your account you will need to send in proof of your new name, then when your current pass expires your new one will have your updated details on them.
If you would like a new card before your current pass expires, there is a £13 admin fee, you will need to send proof of your new name so that we can update your account details and issue the pass.
You can email this information to concessionarytravel@norfolk.gov.uk or post the proof to:
Concessionary Travel
Norfolk County Council
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2SG
Accepted proof would be a recent copy (in your new name) of:
If you are moving to an address outside of Norfolk you must return your pass to us, advising us that you have moved away from the area. You will then need to apply to the relevant authority covering your new address to issue you with a new pass.
Disabled bus passes are covered by our ‘Tell us once’ service, so if you have used this service, you will not need to do anything further.
If you have not used ‘Tell us once’, return the pass to us at the below address with a covering note to explain so we can amend our records:
Concessionary Travel
Travel and Transport Services
Norfolk County Council
County Hall
Norwich
Norfolk
NR1 2SG
We aim to provide information in ways that are accessible to everybody. We do not currently have an Easy Read version of disabled concessionary bus pass guidance and we know that this may cause problems for some people.
We are working to create Easy Read guidance, which we will add to this page when it’s available.
If you need help with understanding this information, please call 0344 800 8020.
