Apply for a disabled person's and companion bus pass

You can get a disabled person and companion bus pass if you:

• are eligible for a disabled person's bus pass
• can't travel alone
• live in Kent.

Live in Medway? Apply for a bus pass on the Medway Council website.

Your companion

You can travel with or without your companion, who:

• should be a suitable adult
• can be a young carer, if registered as one
• does not have to be the same person each time you travel
• can only use the pass for free travel when accompanying you. If your companion uses the pass to travel without you, it will be confiscated and may be withdrawn
• can only travel for free with you if the journey begins in Kent or Medway. If the journey starts outside of these areas, you can still use your pass for free bus travel but your companion must pay the ordinary fare.

What we need from you

Once we have all the information we need from you, we will start to process your application. As part of the application process you will need to send us documents about yourself:

A photo of yourself

• A digital photo clearly showing your face.
• Passport-style is best, but not essential if you don't have one.
• The photo must be recently taken in the past 12 months.

Proof of address

A copy of either your:

• driving licence
• utility bill from within the last year
• bank or credit card statement from within the last year
• Council Tax bill from within the last year.

About you

A copy of either your:

• birth certificate (and marriage certificate if your name has changed)
• passport
• driving licence (if you haven't used it for proof of address)
• a letter from the pension service confirming you're eligible for the state pension.

You cannot use the same document as proof of your address and proof of your age. You must send us two separate documents:

• one for your name and date of birth
• one for your name and address.

Proof of disability

To apply for a disabled person's and companion bus pass, we need information about your disability. All documents should:

• be recent, within the last 12 months or,
• state the expected duration of your condition or there is no expected improvement.

Your documents need to show both that you are eligible for a disabled person’s pass and that you need a companion to travel. You must include evidence of your disability and evidence that you are unable to travel alone. Learn more about this evidence (opens in new window).

Your documents need to show:

• are in receipt of Attendance Allowance at the higher rate or,
• are in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a score of 8 points or more on the 'moving around’' and/or 'communicating verbally' activities or with a score of 12 points or more on the 'planning and following a journey section'
• are registered blind or partially sighted or,
• are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance with the 'mobility component' or 'care component' at the higher rate.

If you do not have any of these conditions, you may still be able to prove that you are eligible for a disabled person plus companion bus pass.

Have your consultant or specialist doctor complete this proof of eligibility form (PDF, 163.3 KB) or we can accept a signed and practice stamped letter.

The letter must confirm that you are unable to travel without a companion.  Also the letter should explain why and for how long this situation is likely to continue.

If you do not have a specialist doctor or consultant, ask your GP to complete the proof of eligibility form (PDF, 163.3 KB).  We can no longer accept letters alone from a GP without the form. The form must be completed and signed by a registered medical doctor and stamped with the official practice stamp. We cannot accept forms which are unstamped or not signed by a registered doctor.

We are not liable for any charges made by any medical professional.

Apply

You can either apply by phone or by post.

To apply by post, send us your disabled person and companion bus pass application form (PDF, 147.8 KB) and your supporting documents to the address below.

What happens next

Once we have your full application, your bus pass will be sent to you within 28 days. Find out more about how you can use your pass.

If you have not received your pass within 28 days check your junk mail box, in case you've missed an email from us.

Still haven't got your pass? Email buspass@kent.gov.uk and we'll get in touch with you.

We cannot control any delays by the postal service.