An estimated one million state pensioners could lose their free travel benefits on public transport, including free bus passes, under a major review from multiple local authorities.
London councils have announced a comprehensive review of the Freedom Pass scheme as mounting costs place significant pressure on borough budgets across the capital.
The taxpayer bill for providing free travel to over-60s will reach £372million in the 2026-2027 financial year, marking a rise of nearly 12 per cent.
Stephen Boon, chief operating officer at London Councils, told the London Standard: "It's costing more than boroughs can afford."
Over 60s in London could lose freebie benefits
|GETTY
The organisation, which manages the scheme on behalf of all 33 London boroughs, will now gather evidence on how potential modifications might affect users and finances.
Under the Freedom Pass, holders are granted complimentary travel across all Transport for London (TfL) services and national rail routes within Greater London, though not during morning peak hours.
Funding for the scheme comes from parking permit charges and traffic penalty revenues collected by Croydon and the capital's other 31 boroughs, along with the City of London Corporation.
More than 1.2 million Londoners currently hold the pass, with each trip effectively charged to the borough where the journey begins.
Could you lose your free bus pass?
| FlickrLondon councils estimates that from April, boroughs will fund approximately 279 million journeys, comprising 221 million bus trips and 44.7 million Tube rides.
The review will examine several options for reducing expenditure, including raising the age threshold for eligibility, introducing means-testing for applicants, and potentially removing national rail services from the scheme's coverage.
Currently, Londoners become eligible for the Freedom Pass at 66, the state pension age, though those aged 60 and over can access TfL's 60+ Oyster card beforehand.
Mr Boon highlighted that the capital's offering surpasses what pensioners receive elsewhere in Britain.
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"It's more than a bus pass, which is what it is in the rest of the country," he said.
The sharp cost increase this year has been attributed to fare rises exceeding inflation.
Stripping national rail travel from the Freedom Pass would deliver savings of £150 million annually, according to Mr Boon.
However, implementing such a change presents significant legal hurdles, as the Greater London Authority Act mandates that the pass must cover all TfL transport modes.
Are you eligible for free travel?
| PAAny alteration to this requirement would necessitate parliamentary legislation.
Pensioners outside London receive only free bus travel through the national scheme, making the capital's comprehensive offering considerably more extensive than provisions available elsewhere in England.
Other discounts available through TfL include children aged 10 and under being able to travel for free on transport services.
Furthermore, certain age groups and demographics could be eligible for discounted travel through their Oystercard.