This page gives you information about disabled bus passes in Portsmouth, including how to apply or renew a pass, and what to do if your pass is lost or stolen. It will also advise you on the eligibility criteria and what proof of eligibility you will need.

Following a successful trial and consultation, holders of disabled bus passes in Portsmouth are now able to travel for free at any time of day with a valid pass.

Apply for a disabled persons bus pass

Eligibility

You are an eligible disabled person if you:

  • are blind or partially sighted, profoundly or severely deaf, 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 long term loss of the use of both arms or do not have arms
  • have a learning disability – a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
  • would have an application to drive a motor vehicle refused due to your disability
  • a member or veteran of the Armed Services who has been seriously injured in service

Apply for a bus pass

You can apply for a disabled person’s bus pass by either:

You will need to provide:

  1. proof that you live in Portsmouth (such as a council tax bill, housing benefit, rent book, tenancy agreement, electoral registration or utility bill),
  2. proof of date of birth (such as birth certificate, passport, driving licence or medical card),
  3. your national insurance number, and
  4. a passport-quality colour photograph.

You will also need to provide proof of disability, such as:

  • Attendance allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance with a mobility component at the higher rate
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) where the applicant has been awarded at least eight points or more for the PIP ‘Moving Around’ and ‘Communicating Verbally’ activities
  • an award letter for guaranteed income payment for tariff levels 1-8 under the 2005 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
  • War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS) under the War Pensions Scheme (WPS)
  • a letter from the DVLA giving notice of long term refusal or withdrawal of driving licence on medical grounds, (misuse of alcohol or drugs are not included under this scheme)
  • a mental health healthcare professional’s standard NHS exclusion letter containing their contact details
  • a blue badge
  • registration with social care (yellow card)
  • a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) signed by an eye consultant (ophthalmologist)
  • an audiologist’s report confirming that the applicant demonstrates the level of hearing reaches 70 + decibels in hearing level (dB HL)
  • a letter on official paper from a medical professional (such as neurologist, cardiologist, physiotherapist, etc.) confirming the specified medical condition or disability that wouldn’t make the applicant eligible to apply for or hold a driving licence

If you think you are eligible, but don’t have any of the documents, please use the contact us section below to discuss this.

Renewing a bus pass

These passes are issued for between one and five years depending on your disability.

If your bus pass is expiring in March

  • If we have assessed you to have a permanent disability you will receive a new pass in the post automatically, unless we contact you before expiry.

If your bus pass is expiring in less than a week and your new one hasn’t arrived, please use the contact us section at the bottom of this page.

We will send your bus pass to the address we have on our records, so you must let us know if your address changes.

Using a bus pass

If you hold a Disabled Person’s pass issued by Portsmouth City Council you can travel for free all day, every day, for journeys starting in Portsmouth.  These passes can be used on local buses anywhere in England in accordance with the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (between 9.30 am and 11pm on Monday – Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays).

If you hold a Disabled Person’s pass issued by another English authority, your pass is valid for use in Portsmouth in accordance with the national scheme, between 9.30am and 11.00pm on Monday – Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

The bus pass does not cover travel in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland

Companion bus passes

The companion bus pass allows those unable to travel alone on public transport to have a companion travel with them free of charge. Find out more on the companion bus pass page.

Change of address

Whether you are moving within, out of or in to Portsmouth, please submit your new details via our online form or use the contact us section below to let us know your new address.

Also, if you have moved into Portsmouth and currently using a previous authority bus pass you will need to apply as a new customer with us.

Lost passes

There is a £10 administration fee, payable in advance, to replace a damaged, defaced or lost pass. The fee is not refundable if the lost pass is later found. Lost passes will be cancelled and therefore cannot be used if found at a later date.

To pay the £10 fee and request a replacement bus pass, you can either:

  • submit our online form, or
  • pay the fee over the phone with a debit or credit card by calling 023 9268 8575 between Monday and Friday, 9am-4pm (closed bank holidays). Once we have received payment the replacement bus pass will be posted to you within 10 working days.

If your pass is stolen, please report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number. This number will enable us to issue a replacement card without charge. We will also replace any cards which have a technical problem for free. Please use the contact us section below if your pass is stolen.

Contact us

For more information you can contact us by:

  • Telephone: 023 9268 8575
  • Email: concessionaryfares@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
  • Post:
    Concessionary Fares
    Portsmouth City Council
    Civic Offices
    Guildhall Square
    PO1 2AL
  • In person at the Civic Offices Mon-Fri 9am-1pm

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