England removes time limits on disabled people's bus passes

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that disabled people in England will be able to use their free bus passes at any time of day from April 1, 2027. At the moment, most disabled pass holders can only travel free between 9:30am and 11pm on weekdays. The new policy will cost £60 million. This money will come from two government departments. Burnham introduced the same change in Greater Manchester when he was mayor there in March 2026. The government says the current time limits make it harder for disabled people to get to work, education, and healthcare appointments. Removing these limits is expected to help disabled people who are already under financial pressure because of the rising cost of living.