The National Entitlement Card (NEC) provides access to many public services across Scotland and gives people over 60, and those of all ages with a disability, free bus travel across the country. Through the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, it also provides reduced fares on train, Subway and ferry journeys.
However, south of the border eligibility and usage rules for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) are different and Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper has urged the Department for Transport if it will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the scheme to provide “free anytime bus travel to all disabled bus pass holders”.
In a written response, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood explained how the ENCTS provides “free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of State Pension age” adding the scheme costs around £700 million per year to maintain.
He continued: “Any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the times of use, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.”
However, the Transport Minister added local authorities in England “have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the travel time criteria for the ENCTS”.
The Department for Transport’s concessionary travel statistics for the year ending March 2025, report 60 per cent of travel concession authorities provide discretionary concessions for disabled concessionary passholders to travel before 9:30am and after 11pm.
Online petition
A new online petition is calling for the UK Government to change the ENCTS to enable disabled people to use their concessionary travel card before 09.30 am.
Petition creator Shaun Fathers argues: “Disabled workers tend to be on lower incomes. We are given means to help us get to work but the use of these passes are restricted to off peak in many areas. A lot of start times for jobs are not off peak. We think that the Department for Transport should change the policy and allow the use during peak times.”
You can view the petition on the petitions-parliament website here. At 10,000 signatures of support, it would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government.
National Entitlement Card in Scotland
In Scotland, people over 60 are eligible to apply for the National Entitlement Card (NEC), which is administered by the Scottish Government. It is Scotland’s National Smartcard, offering access to many public services across the country.
The card gives elderly and disabled people free bus travel across Scotland and, through the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, also provides reductions on train, Subway and ferry fares.
The NEC is valid for up to three years, but in a change to the renewal process, SPT no longer sends out renewal forms to disabled card holders. This means everyone with a card – sometimes referred to as a ‘Saltire card’ – should check the expiry date to make sure they will be able to enjoy uninterrupted entitlement to travel concessions.
SPT recommends applying for a renewal card at least five weeks before the expiry date. It’s also important to be aware guidance on the SPT website states the Concessionary Travel Card Unit at Buchanan Bus Station will be closed for in person applications until further notice.