A new phase of Britain's gradual increase to the State Pension age takes effect in August, pushing back the age at which many pensioners in England become eligible for a free bus pass under Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government.

The change stems from the ongoing rise in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, which began April 6 and is being phased in gradually through monthly increments until the process concludes in 2028. The policy affects anyone born after April 6, 1960, requiring them to wait longer to claim their State Pension, a delay that carries a secondary consequence for many pensioners, since free bus pass eligibility in England outside London is directly tied to State Pension age rather than a fixed age threshold.

The Department for Transport confirmed to the Express that bus pass eligibility is changing in step with the State Pension age increase, with the next phase beginning this month affecting anyone born between Aug. 6, 1960, and Sept. 5, 1960. Under the current timetable, pensioners in that birth window face an additional five-month wait before they can claim both their State Pension and their free bus pass. For example, someone born on Aug. 6, 1960, will not become eligible for either benefit until Jan. 6, 2027, at which point they will be exactly 66 years and five........

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