Apply for a concessionary bus pass

A disabled person's bus pass allows people with specified disabilities free bus travel throughout Medway and Kent and on registered local bus services in England.

You can apply for a bus pass up to 8 weeks before it is needed. Please allow 6 weeks for applications to be processed.

Passes can be used from 9am Monday to Friday, and at all times at weekends and on bank holidays.

Companion pass

If you qualify for a disabled person’s bus pass and you can only travel on public transport with help, you may be entitled to a companion pass.

A companion pass is not a separate bus pass. Your bus pass will have a yellow bar down the side with a 'C+' symbol to indicate someone can travel with you for free.

You’ll be asked if you need a companion pass when you apply for a disabled person’s pass. You must provide a letter from a doctor or medical specialist to prove you need help from a companion.

The C+ Companion entitlement is an extra concession permitted only in the Medway and Kent County Council areas. This will not be available in other parts of England, and the companion will need to purchase a bus ticket to travel with the disabled bus pass holder.

You must provide proof of your disability and Medway address before we can issue you with a disabled person's bus pass. Your proof must be clear and readable.

Proof of disability

You'll need to provide evidence that you qualify for a pass using any one of the following categories:

• have a disabled person’s Blue Badge
• receive 8 points or more under the 'Moving around' or 'Communicating verbally' categories of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• receive 10 points or more on 'Planning and following' under the mobility criteria activities of PIP
• receive the higher rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
• receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• are blind or partially sighted
• are profoundly or severely deaf in both ears
• are without speech
• have a walking disability or injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk
• have no arms or cannot use both of your arms
• have a substantial learning difficulty
• attend a special school due to a disability
• would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds.

Find out what evidence you’ll need to provide for each eligibility category.

Proof of identity

To prove your identity you’ll need to provide a copy of one of the following:

• passport
• driving licence
• birth certificate or adoption certificate
• marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
• divorce certificate.

Proof of current Medway address

If you give us consent to check our Council Tax records you do not need to provide proof that you live in Medway.

If you do not give us consent to check our records, you’ll need to provide a copy of one of the following:

• Medway Council Tax bill
• utility bill
• bank statement.

Your documents must be dated within the last 12 months.

Photo

You’ll need to provide a photo to be displayed on your bus pass. Your photo should be of your head and shoulders and meet the guidelines for passport photos. Please note that we are unable to use the image from your passport or driving licence.

Apply online

If you apply online your bus pass is likely to arrive quicker.

You can apply for a disabled person's bus pass if you are a Medway resident. If you're not a Medway resident find out how to apply for an older person's bus pass outside of Medway.

We'll accept electronic documents, scanned copies or clearly readable photographs of your proof.

Apply for a disabled person's bus pass online

This is the first time I have applied for anything online. I found it easy.

Public computers are available in our libraries and community hubs for you to complete the online form.

Apply in writing by post

You can also apply in writing for a bus pass by downloading, completing and returning a paper form to us.

Please only send clear photocopies of your evidence. Do not send original documents.

Download PDF paper application form

You can also ask staff in our contact points and community hubs to help you download and print an application form to be completed by hand.

Apply by phone

Phone us on 01634 333 333 if you need help applying. 

After you’ve applied

We'll review your application, and if approved we'll aim to issue you with a new bus pass within 6 weeks. If you're renewing a pass, you will not receive this until one week before your existing pass expires. 

If we've any questions about your application or we need to meet you, we’ll contact you on the phone number or email address you provided when you applied. Make sure you check your junk or spam emails.

We will not refund the cost of any bus tickets you buy while you're waiting for your disabled person’s bus pass to arrive.

Please note that confirmation of an application made with a reference number will not allow you to travel. Only holding the disabled person's bus pass with a valid photo will allow you to travel. Ensure that you apply in advance (up to 8 weeks) to allow for your application to be processed.