We offer bus pass concessions to permanent residents of the borough.
Eligible Cheshire East residents can apply for an older person’s or disabled person’s bus pass via an online Portal. You can also use the portal to replace lost or damaged cards (£10 fee applies). Don't forget to update your address if it has changed. Cheshire East Council does not provide companion or plus 1 passes.
Click on the options below for more information.
Eligible Cheshire East residents can now apply for an older person’s or disabled person’s bus pass via an online Portal
You can check whether or not you are eligible for an older person's bus pass by using the State Pension age calculator.
Your State Pension age is the earliest age you will be eligible for an older person's bus pass.
How to apply:
If you have access to the internet, an email address and you are able to take photos and upload documents, you can apply via the Cheshire East Bus Pass Portal.
The process will take no more than 10 minutes and once completed your application will be sent to Ansa Transport for verification.
You will need:
You will need to supply proof of identity and age, using one of the following:
- a birth certificate (where the name differs due to marriage, civil partnership, divorce or deed poll, suitable legal documentation will be required to support the application)
- a valid driving licence photocard
- a valid passport
You will need to show proof of residence, using one of the following:
- a council tax bill, utility bill
- a permanent barge mooring certificate
- a bank statement (within 3 months)
You will need:
- a clear 'head and shoulders' photograph of yourself that can be used on your bus pass. You can wear your glasses on the photograph as long as there is no glare.
If your bus pass application is successful we make a note of the form of evidence you supplied on your record, but we do not store this evidence.
Applying for a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
If you are applying for a disabled person’s bus pass you will need to supply the information requested above plus recent evidence of your disability (dated within 1 year).
If there are any problems with your application Ansa Transport will contact you by email asking you to resubmit your evidence.
When you should receive your bus pass
You should receive your bus pass within approximately 10 working days of making your online application.
Cheshire East Bus Pass Portal - you can also use the portal to replace lost or damaged cards (£10 fee applies).
Older person's bus pass
Before you apply please check you qualify on age by using the State Pension calculator.
You can apply for your bus pass in person at Cheshire East Council Libraries, Macclesfield Town Hall or Delamere House. Be advised you need to make an appointment before visiting the library to ensure staff are available.
You will need to bring:
You will need to supply proof of identity and age, using one of the following:
- a birth certificate (where the name differs due to marriage, civil partnership, divorce or deed poll, suitable legal documentation will be required to support the application)
- a valid driving licence photocard
- a valid passport
The advisor will take a photo for your application.
You will also need to show proof of residence, using one of the following:
- a council tax bill, utility bill
- a permanent barge mooring certificate
- a bank statement (within 3 months)
Once your bus pass application has been successful a note is made on your record of the evidence you supplied, but the copies of the evidence will be deleted.
Applying for a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
You can apply in person at Cheshire East Council Libraries. Customer Centres at Macclesfield Town Hall and Delamere House remain closed until further notice.
If you are applying for a disabled person’s bus pass you will need to supply the information requested above plus recent evidence of your disability (dated within 1 year).
You should receive your bus pass within approximately 10 working days of making your application.
What your bus pass entitles you to
Cheshire East residents with an older or disabled person's pass
On bus journeys starting in Cheshire East:
- Monday – Friday before 9.30am – half fare
- Monday – Friday between 9.30am – last bus – free fare
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday – free fare
In the rest of England:
- Monday - Friday between 9.30am - 11.00pm - free fare
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday - free fare
Cheshire East Disabled bus pass - blind/partially sighted
If you are a Cheshire East resident and hold a disabled persons ENCTS pass on the grounds of visual impairment and have been issued with a fluorescent wallet then you are entitled to free travel on all local bus journeys starting in Cheshire East regardless of time. Please note that the pass must be retained in the fluorescent wallet provided at all times in order to receive all the concessions to which you are entitled.
Bus services in Cheshire East
Find out more about bus services operating in Cheshire East borough:
Cheshire East passes are not valid for journeys into Wales.
Visitors to Cheshire East
If you are visiting Cheshire East and have an English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) pass issued by another English authority you will be entitled to the following concessions on local bus services:
- Monday - Friday between 0930 - 11:00pm - free fare
- Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday - free fare
Full fare applies at all other times on all services.
Exclusions
The English National Concessionary Bus Pass issued by Cheshire East Council is not valid for use on:
- bus services on which the majority of seats can be reserved in advance of travel (such as coaches)
- bus services that are intended to run for a period of less than 6 consecutive weeks
- bus services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism or because of the historical interest of the vehicle
- bus substitution (rail replacement) services
- bus services where the fare charged by the operator has a special amenity element
- tours, excursions and sightseeing buses
- express bus services such as National Express
- night buses
- trains, trams, ferries, Metrolink or Underground.
Q. My bus pass expires on 30 November 2023, what do I need to do?
A. If you have used your bus pass since 1 November 2022, it will be renewed automatically and a new pass will be sent to your registered address. If you have not used your pass in the past 12 months, you can re-apply online via the Cheshire East Bus Pass Portal or if you do not have internet access, by visiting your local library or customer service centre, or by phoning 01270 371477 at least three weeks before you want to travel. A new pass will be posted to you.
Q. I have not used my bus pass. Why can’t you send me a new pass anyway as I am eligible to receive one?
A. Cheshire East have issued a large quantity of passes that remain unused and this represents a huge cost to the Council. However, if you will be using bus services you can reapply by visiting your local library or customer service centre at least three weeks before you want to travel and a new pass will be posted to you.
Q. I have a disabled person’s bus pass – does this apply to me too?
A. No, these bus passes have different expiry dates based on the medical evidence provided. We will contact you directly prior to your current pass expiring.
Q. I have moved house and my bus pass might be sent to the wrong address, what should I do?
A. Please take recent proof of your new address into your local Cheshire East Library or customer service centre so that your records can be updated. Please note that if you do not tell us about a change of address and a pass is sent to your previous address, there will be a £10 charge made to replace it.
Q. Can I use my pass outside Cheshire East?
A. Yes. However, in some cases, operators outside Cheshire East haven't downloaded the Cheshire East data files and Cheshire East passes will not scan on their buses.
The operator can record the journey manually. If the operator charges you, you would need to complain to the operator for a refund.
National scheme entitlement outside Cheshire East:
- Monday - Friday between 9.30am - 11.00pm - free fare
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday - free fare
If your bus pass has been lost, damaged or stolen a replacement can be requested.
The charge for a replacement bus pass that has been lost is £10.00. Stolen passes will be replaced free of charge on production of a crime number issued by the Police.
If your bus pass has been damaged you may have to pay a £10 charge. If the card is in good condition but does not scan you can have your card checked at Macclesfield Town Hall. If the fault is with the chip then a replacement will be issued free of charge. If the damage is due to misuse then the £10 charge will apply.
If your original pass is found after the issue of your replacement, you must return the original pass to the address on the reverse for secure disposal as it will have been cancelled on the system to prevent further use. Refunds cannot be made after a replacement pass has been issued.
Requests for lost or damaged replacement bus passes can be made via the Cheshire East Bus Pass Portal or in person at one of our customer service centres or libraries. Stolen passes can only be replaced at a customer service centre or library.
Fees and charges are correct at time of writing and may be subject to change.
Older Person's bus pass renewals
If you already hold a Concessionary Bus Pass that is due to expire, here’s what you need to know:
As long as you have used your bus pass in the last 12 calendar months, it will be renewed automatically. A new pass will be posted to you before your current one expires and you don’t need to contact us or take any action. If you have changed your address since your current pass was provided, you will need to visit your local Cheshire East Council library or customer service centre with evidence of your new address at least 4 weeks before expiry of your current pass.
If you have NOT used your bus pass in the last 12 calendar months, it will not be renewed automatically. If you wish to use bus services in the future, you can re-apply online at Cheshire East - My Bus Pass or by calling the concessionary travel team on 01270 371477.
If you have changed your address since your previous pass was provided, you won’t be able to re-apply on line at this time and will need to visit your local Cheshire East Council library or customer service centre with evidence of your new address. Your new pass can take up to three weeks to be delivered.
Disabled persons bus pass renewals
If you have a disabled bus pass you will receive a letter 4 to 6 weeks before your pass expires. You will need to fill in the enclosed renewal form and send it back with supporting evidence or a GP declaration as detailed by the evidence sheet.
In some cases where valid evidence has been provided showing that the disability is permanent an automatic renewal will take place as long as you have used your pass within the last 12 months before expiry. If you haven't been using your bus pass in the last 12 months before expiry or it has already expired then you will need to make a new application. This can be done through the Cheshire East Bus Pass Portal.
New passes will automatically be issued up to 18 days before your pass is due to expire.
Your new bus pass will be posted to your home address and should arrive within 10 working days from when we receive the above documentation from you.
Address changes
If you have moved home since your pass was issued you will need to update your details so we have the correct address to send your new pass to and, where applicable, the disabled renewal letter.
You will need to bring proof of your new address such as a Council Tax bill, Utility bill or recent bank statement as evidence of the change to a Cheshire East library or to Customer Service Centres at Delamere House, Crewe or Macclesfield Town Hall.
Name changes
If your name change is due to marriage, civil partnership, divorce or deed poll, suitable legal documentation will be required to update your details. You will need to visit an office in person with suitable legal evidence of the change.
Changes can only be made in person in one of the Customer Service Centres or library.
Cheshire East Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. The Council may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, an error has been made or if there is another explanation, until an investigation is carried out.
The Cabinet Office currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise called the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide Concessionary Travel data to the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise. These data matching exercises will satisfy data protection and human rights principles. For further details on these exercises see www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/nfi or telephone the Council on 0300 123 5500.
For further information or general queries contact:
The Concessionary Travel Scheme Administrator, Ansa Transport, Cledford Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0JR or telephone 01270 371478.
The English Traveline call centre opening hours are 7am to 10pm most days. You can find full details on Traveline's website.