Disabled persons bus pass eligibility and evidence

You will be eligible if:

• you are registered with your local authority, or entitled to be registered as blind (severely sight impaired)
• you are registered, or entitled to be registered as partially sighted (sight impaired)

You will not be eligible if:

• you are not entitled to be registered by your local authority

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

• a certificate of visual impairment (CVI) completed by an ophthalmologist
• form BD8 (issued from 1990, but replaced by the certificate of visual impairment)
• evidence of registration with the local authority as being blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired)
• blue badge - your pass will expire at around the same time as your blue badge
• evidence of residency at a registered home for the blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired
• for veterans, the reasons for decisions’ letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCAS)

In general terms a person can be registered blind (severely sight impaired) if they cannot see (with glasses, if worn) the top letter of the eye test chart (used by doctors and opticians) at a distance of three metres or less.

Some people, who can read the top letter of an eye test chart at three metres, but not at six metres, may still be eligible for registration as blind if their field of vision is also severely restricted.

A person can be registered as partially sighted (sight impaired) if they have a full field of vision but can only read the top letter of the eye test chart at a distance of six metres or less (with glasses, if worn). However, if they can read the next three lines down at the same distance, but the field of vision is either moderately or severely restricted, they may still qualify for registration.

You will be eligible if:

• you have both arms but are unable to carry out day to day tasks
• you have limb reduction deficiency of both arms
• you have bilateral upper limb amputation
• you have a medical condition which affects the use of your arms. For example, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, motor neuron disease

You will not be eligible if:

• you have one arm and are able to carry out day to day activities

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

• documents which demonstrate that you have lost the use of your arms over the long term (12 months or more)
• your blue badge - your pass will expire at around the same time as your blue badge
• a letter from your medical practitioner who is treating you (not a GP)
• for veterans, the reasons for discussion letter under Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCAS)
• visual assessment by staff (self-evident that the applicant has bilateral upper limb amputation)

You will be eligible if:

• you have a learning disability which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning skills. This can include downs syndrome and other learning disabilities.

You will not be eligible if:

• you have dyslexia, dyspraxia or attention deficit disorder - these would not qualify as a 'significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning'
• your intelligence is not impaired, even if your disability affects your social functioning
• you are applying because of mental health problems
• your condition started after you became an adult (for example a brain injury
• you suffer from mental health issues but are receiving appropriate treatment, meaning you would not be refused a driving licence
• you suffer from mental health and cannot provide appropriate evidence to support your application

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

Information which confirms you:

• have significant impairment of your intelligence and significant impairment of your social functioning
• are known to a local authority as having a learning disability
• have evidence of residency at a registered care home for the disabled
• have evidence of attendance at a registered special school

We may also ask you to send additional information such as a statement of education health care plan (EHCP) or special educational needs (SEN).

Evidence we cannot accept:

Information which says you have:

• learning difficulties
• Asperger's syndrome
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• a letter which says you would benefit from having a bus pass
• a letter which asks you to be considered for a bus pass because you need one

None of the above provides evidence that your intelligence is significantly impaired.

You will be eligible if:

• your hearing loss is severe or profound (greater than 70 dBHL in both ears)

You will not be eligible if:

• your hearing loss is mild or moderate (69 dBHL or less, in your better ear)

Hearing loss is graded as:

• 25 - 39 dBHL is mild - cannot hear whispers
• 40 - 69 dBHL is moderate - cannot hear conversational speech
• 70 - 94 dBHL is severe - able to hear some words when shouted
• > 95 dBHL is profound - unable to hear and understand even a shouted voice

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

• confirmation that you are registered as profoundly or severely deaf from a local authority
• a letter from audiologist or audiological report which demonstrated that you have hearing loss of more than 70 dBHL in both ears
• for veterans, the reasons for decision letter under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCAS)

You will be eligible if you are 17 years old or older and:

• you have epilepsy and your current experience of seizures means that you would not be eligible for a driving licence
• you have diabetes and have suffered more than one hypoglycemic attack requiring the assistance of another person within the last 12 months
• you have a severe mental disorder which means you would be refused a driving licence or have your driving licence revoked by the DVLA
• you cannot read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with lenses)

You will not be eligible if:

• you are refused a driving licence by the DVLA as a result of the misuse of drugs or alcohol
• you are advised not to drive for medical reasons, or for the sake of your health, but are allowed to keep your driving licence. For example you are recovering from surgery or because driving would make the medical condition worse
• the reason you cannot drive is short term (less than 12 months) and you are not required to surrender your licence
• the reason you cannot drive is because of the side effects of medication that you are taking (unless your driving license is revoked or refused because of it)
• you suffer from mental health issues (such as anxiety or depression) which would not cause you to be refused a driving license
• you have a life-limiting condition or serious illness, unless you are at risk of seizures as a result
• you have dementia. Current DVLA guidance states you may be able to drive, but must notify the DVLA. The DVLA acknowledge that there are varied presentations and rates of progression, and the decision on licensing is usually based on medical reports. If you are subsequently refused a driving licence after such assessment, and you can provide evidence of this, you will then become eligible
• you suffer from mental health issues but are receiving appropriate treatment, meaning you would not be refused a driving licence
• you suffer from mental health and cannot provide appropriate evidence to support your application

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

• a letter from the DVLA indicating that your driving licence has been refused or revoked following an assessment
• a letter from the DVLA accepting the surrendered driving licence, together with evidence confirming the relevant medical condition would mean the applicant’s driving licence would be refused or revoked
• information from a medical professional (not a GP) which confirms that you would be refused a driving licence (other than because of drug or alcohol dependency)
• evidence which demonstrates you have one of the disabilities or medical conditions which would be covered by Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1933

You will also need to show whether the refusal of the driving licence is permanent (for example because of a lifelong condition) or temporary (for example because of an isolated seizure).

Evidence we cannot accept:

• advice not to drive because of medication (unless it explicitly states that you must hand back your driving licence or that a driving licence would be refused)
• letter from the DVLA indicating that you have voluntarily surrendered your driving licence;
• a letter which states you would be unable to drive but which does not give the reason
• anything which indicates that the reason you cannot drive is linked to the misuse of alcohol or drugs
• a letter which says you would benefit from having a bus pass
• a letter which asks you to be considered for a bus pass because you need one

You are only eligible for a bus pass under this category if you are over 17 years old and able to provide the relevant supporting documentation.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 you may be refused a driving licence on the grounds of your medical fitness. Those currently barred from holding a licence include people with:

• epilepsy (unless it is a type that does not pose a danger)
• severe mental disorder
• liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting
• inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with lenses, if worn)
• other disabilities which are likely to cause the driving of vehicles by them to be a source or danger to the public

You do not have to apply for a driving licence in order to qualify. However, if you are in possession of a current driving licence you cannot apply under this category. Applicants under this category may have their details passed to the DVLA for the purpose of fraud prevention.

You will be eligible if:

• you are unable to walk at all
• you can only get about by swinging through crutches (long term)
• you are unable to walk more than 64 metres with severe discomfort
• it takes an excessive amount of time to walk a short distance (for example, five minutes to walk 100 metres)
• the exertion to walk would constitute a danger to your life or would likely lead to serious deterioration in your health

You will not be eligible if:

• your mobility problems are short term (less than 12 months)
• you are able to walk relatively normal with the use of an artificial leg

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

• your blue badge (issued under mobility) - your pass will expire at around the same time as your blue badge
• current Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award letter (including the point’s breakdown) which shows eight or more points for moving around
• current DLA letter showing mobility component at the higher rate
• for a veteran, proof of receiving War Pensions Mobility Supplement or the reasons for discussion letter under Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCAS)

Evidence we cannot accept:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award of 6 points or less for moving around
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award of moving around but no breakdown of how the points have been awarded
• DLA mobility component at the lower rate
• DLA care component at any rate
• a letter which lists your medical conditions
• a letter which says your mobility is affected by a medical condition
• a letter which says you would benefit from having a bus pass
• a letter which asks you to be considered for a bus pass because you need one

You will be eligible if:

• you are unable to communicate in any language. For example, you are unable to make clear basic oral requests or you are unable to ask specific questions to clarify instructions.

You will not be eligible if:

• you have speech but it is too low or difficult to understand. For example, you have a severe stammer
• you cannot speak English, but you speak another language

Proving that you are eligible

Evidence we accept:

• evidence that you have been awarded eight points or more for the communicating verbally activity of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• a letter from social services, or another appropriate organisation providing support services (not a GP), stating you are without speech
• documents which demonstrate you are without speech