Travel Passes for Disabled People

All older people and eligible people with a disability are entitled to free travel, on bus only, between the hours of 9.30am to 11.00pm, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays anywhere in England. 

If you live permanently in the West Midlands county and meet certain criteria you may be entitled to a free travel pass from Centro.

How do I know if I am eligible for a free travel pass?

Centro can issue passes to people who qualify under any of the seven categories of disability defined by the Transport Act 2000.

The qualifying conditions of the seven categories are very specific and your disability must be long term.

The seven categories are:

1. Registered blind or partially sighted.
2. Severely or profoundly deaf
3. Without speech
4. Disability or injury which has a substantial and adverse effect on ability to walk
5. Loss of the use of both arms or without arms
6. Learning disability
7. Would be refused a licence to drive a motor vehicle, or have had a licence withdrawn, on the grounds of physical fitness, other than on the ground of persistent misuse of alcohol or drugs; for example:
• Uncontrolled epilepsy
• Severe mental disorder
• Liable to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting
• Established dementia conditions
• Inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5m (with lenses if worn)

The above list is not comprehensive and if in doubt please call the Centro Ticketing Team for advice or refer to our Method Statement.

For details of how Centro assesses eligibility for a Concessionary Pass on the grounds of disability under the Transport Act 2000 please refer to our Method Statement.

Validity

The travel pass provides free travel Monday to Friday after 9.30am until the end of daytime service within the Network West Midlands area. It can also be used all day on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

You can also travel anywhere in England for free on local buses after 9.30am until 11.00pm weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays. This does not include coach services.

Travelling before 9.30am

If you want to travel before 9.30am on weekdays in the Network West Midlands area you can pay for your journey each time you travel.

If you use public transport regularly before 9.30am, you can buy a pre 9.30 ticket (valid only within the Network West Midlands area).

• on all buses? You need a pre 09:30 bus
• on trains only? You need a pre 09:30 train
• on all buses plus the Metro tram? You need a pre 09:30 bus & Metro
• on trains, Metro tram and all buses? You need a pre 09:30 network

network and train tickets are also available by .

Hospital Travel Costs Scheme

You may be able to get financial help towards pre 9.30 travel costs if you need NHS treatment at a hospital, other NHS centre or private clinic and have been referred by an NHS hospital consultant. You can claim at the NHS hospital or clinic at the time of your appointment.

Your Council may be able to offer you help towards the cost of your pre 09:30 ticket. Contact your local Social Services Department to find out more.

Where can I buy my pre 09:30 ticket?

You can buy pre 09:30 tickets from the following sales outlets:

• Most TWM Travelcard ticket agents
• Travel West Midlands Travelcard and Information Centres
• Local Travel Information Centre, Birmingham New Street Station
  

I have lost my pass how do I get a replacement?

An administration fee of £7.50 will be charged to replace your concessionary travel pass. Payment can be made over the telephone using a credit or debit card. If applying by post, cheques and postal orders will be accepted. Please click here to download an application form to apply for a replacement pass by post.

If your travel pass has been stolen and you have a crime reference number there will be no administration fee to replace it. Please contact our ticketing team by telephone on 0845 303 6760 to arrange for a replacement.

If you have reached the age of entitlement for the English National Concessionary pass (see table) you will not need to apply for a free travel pass on health grounds. Click here for more details.

Applying for your pass

Application is by post. Application forms are available from:

• Centro ticketing team (call 0845 303 6760)

• Click here to download an application form, then print it out and mail to Centro, Centro House, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3SD.  Furthermore please download and complete the Category 7 - Questionnaire to assess your medical fitness to drive and Learning Disability Supplementary Questionnaire forms which then need to be sent with the application form.

1. Fill in Parts 1 - 6 of this form (in BLOCK CAPITALS) as fully as you can.
2. Remember to attach a passport photograph of yourself in Part 1. Please use sticky tape or glue.
3. Remember to read and sign the Declaration in Part 5.
4. Include the documents we ask for in Part 6.
5. Post the completed form, and relevant documents to us at: Centro, PO Box 9421, Birmingham B19 3TR
6. Please allow at least six weeks for us to process your application; it may take longer if the form is not completed in full or if the supporting evidence required is not provided. We may require more information to assess your eligibility. If this is the case we will send you a questionnaire to complete.

Click here to download a Concessionary Pass Application Form for the Partially Sighted

If you would like a copy of this document in a form more suited to your needs, please call 0121 214 7214 or e-mail: customerrelations@centro.org.uk

You can also download an easy-to-read version of the form. Click here for this form.

If you need any help filling in this application form or if you have any questions about the form or the travel pass, please call our helpline on 0845 303 6760.

What information will be collected about me and what will it be used for?

To apply for a Concessionary Travel Pass we will register your personal information in order to produce and send out your travel pass. We will store your personal information and use this if we need to replace your travel pass in the future and to inform you about changes to the use of your travel pass. We may also share your personal information with other organisations in order to process your application.

For further information regarding how we will use your personal information please refer to our Privacy Policy

We can offer you a telephone interpreting service if you require.

For more details please telephone 0845 303 6760