Freedom Pass

Freedom Pass Information

A Freedom Pass entitles the holder to 24-hour free travel across Transport for London’s networks, except for some river boats where travel is half price.

Travel is free for Freedom pass holders on London Overground services, but please be aware that not all rail services in London are part of the London Overground network. Please refer to the when and where section of the Freedom Pass website to check if you can travel before 09:30.

Older persons Freedom Pass – How to Apply ?

If you were 60 or over on 6th April 2010 you are automatically entitled to a Freedom Pass. You apply for your pass at the Post Office. You can download the application form and guidance notes here or pick up the form from the Post Office.
If you live in the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Camden or Sutton, you must apply directly to the Council.
Barking & Dagenham – 020 8227 2334
Camden – 020 7974 6435
Sutton – 020 8770 4537

Due to the rise in the state pension age, you are no longer automatically entitled to a Freedom Pass on your 60th birthday. The age of eligibility will rise incrementally between 2010 and 2020. The earliest age for men and women to get concessionary travel passes will therefore rise gradually, from 60 on 6 April 2010 to 65 on 5 April 2020.

You can check when you can apply for your Freedom Pass by using the online eligibility calculator
or call our information line on 020 7737 2339.

If your Freedom Pass has a rose symbol on it, you can use it on most local bus networks in England.

Disabled Persons Freedom Pass – How to Apply ?

A disabled person of any age can apply for this pass, as long as you meet one of the following criteria:

• People who are blind or partially sighted
• People who are profoundly or severely deaf
• People without speech
• People who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has left them with a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk
• People who do not have arms or have a long-term loss of the use of both arms
• People who have a learning disability that is defined as ‘a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning’
• People who, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

To obtain a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass you must apply directly to your local council. Most councils now have the application forms available to download from their websites. Alternatively you can call your council and ask them to post you a form or we can print off the relevant form and send it to you:

• Barking & Dagenham - 020 8227 2334
• Barnet - 020 8359 4131
• Bexley – 0203 045 5329
• Brent – 020 8937 4001/4078
• Bromley – 020 8313 4672
• Camden – 020 7974 6435/5919
• City of London – 020 7332 1224
• Croydon – 020 8726 7100
• Ealing – 020 8825 5000
• Enfield – 020 8379 1000
• Greenwich – 020 8921 2388
• Hackney – 020 8356 6825
• Hammersmith & Fulham – 020 8753 5134
• Haringey – 020 8489 1865
• Harrow – 020 8901 2670
• Havering – 01708 434 343
• Hillingdon – 01895 556 633/01895 250 111
• Hounslow – 020 8583 3073
• Islington – 020 7527 2000
• Kensington & Chelsea – 020 7361 2390
• Kingston upon Thames – 020 8547 6085
• Lambeth – 020 7926 0747/5555
• Lewisham – 020 8314 9844
• Merton – 020 8545 3028
• Newham – 020 8430 2000 x71105
• Redbridge – 020 8554 5000
• Richmond – 020 8831 6312/6191
• Southwark – 020 7525 2141/2306
• Sutton – 020 8770 4578
• Tower Hamlets – 0207 364 5803
• Waltham Forest – 020 8496 3000
• Wandsworth- 020 8871 8871
• Westminster – 020 7641 2266

Top Tips

The criteria for the Disabled Persons’ Freedom pass have been laid down by the Dept of Transport in the Transport Act 2000. However they are interpreted differently from borough to borough. A number of local authorities may ask you to attend an eligibility assessment carried out by Occupational Therapists. You may be asked questions about your impairments – as well as being monitored while you walk a certain distance.

You may also be asked how you have traveled to the assessment itself.

If you feel that you do meet the above criteria but have been refused a disabled persons pass – then contact us and we may be able to help you lodge an appeal.

Replacement Passes

Freedom Pass holders who lose or damage their cards will be charged for replacements. Pass holders can pay by debit or credit cards over the telephone.

If your card is faulty you will be asked to make a payment of £10 and a new card will be ordered. You will have 5 days in which to return the faulty card along with a covering letter (including your telephone number) to the Freepost address once your new card has arrived: Freepost, Freedom Pass Returns. Upon receipt of your faulty pass London Councils will test the pass to confirm that the pass is faulty and not damaged. A refund of £10 will be given if the card is proven to be faulty.

Call the Freedom Pass helpline to request a new card.
The Freedom Pass helpline is 0845 275 7054

More information about the scheme can be found online at www.freedompass.org/ and an information leaflet is available in a variety of languages.