National Entitlement Card-Free and Discounted Travel Scheme

Older and Disabled People

Older and disabled people qualify for free Scotland-wide bus travel under a National Entitlement Card scheme run jointly by the Scottish Government and local authorities.

The card also allows people who live in the area covered by Strathclyde's Concessionary Travel Scheme (which includes Argyll & Bute), to get cheaper fares on First ScotRail trains and the Glasgow Subway within the area covered by the Strathclyde Scheme. 

Concessionary travel is also available on local ferries for anyone who lives on an island or peninsula and meets the qualifying criteria.

The National Entitlement Card is needed to obtain free bus travel, reduced fares on trains and the Subway concessionary Ferry travel.

For further details of the scheme please refer to the SPT and Transport Scotland websites.

Companion Entitlement

If your mobility is such that you require to be accompanied when travelling, you can apply for a National Entitlement Card containing the companion entitlement (C+1) to allow a companion travel free of charge with you for the same journey by bus.

You will qualify for the companion entitlement if you receive the higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance; or you receive Attendance Allowance; or you are registered blind; or you live in a care or residential home and eligible to receive the higher or middle rate of the care component Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.

You will be required to provide a copy of an award notice from the Department of Work and Pensions dated within the last 12 months or a copy of your blind registration certificate.

Your companion can vary from journey to journey and you may travel with or without a companion. Your companion must travel with you and may not travel without the cardholder. If your companion wishes to remain on the bus after you (the cardholder) has left then they will be required to pay the appropriate fare to the driver.

There is no need for you to be accompanied on all bus journeys you make as you have the choice of whether to travel alone or have someone travel with you.  Your companion must be over the age of 5 years.

Young People

Young people aged between 11 and 26 also qualify for the National Entitlement Card which offers a variety of benefits including travel discounts.

For Further details please refer to the Young Scot website.

Who Qualifies?

Older People

All adults over 60 years of age and resident in Scotland.

Disabled People

Eligible disabled people of fare paying age (aged 5 and over) will qualify for a National Entitlement Card under one of the following criteria:

• In receipt of the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• In receipt of the higher/middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
• In receipt of Attendance Allowance
• Resident in a care or residential home or hospital and require 24 hour supervision
• Holder of a Disabled Persons Parking Badge (Blue Badge)
• Are profoundly or severely deaf
• Unable to drive on medical grounds
• Suffer from a mental illness, learning disability or personality disorder
• Terminally ill
• Suffer from a progressively degenerative disorder
• Have suffered a loss of limbs
• Visually impaired
• Seriously injured veteran with mobility problems

 Young People

Please contact your local Youth Enquiry Service or the Young Scot website for further information.

Applying for a National Entitlement Card

Older People

Please apply at your local Post Office

Diasbled People

Please apply at your local Post Office or application forms can be picked up at your local Social Work office.  Please complete and return your form, together with all your documentation, to your local Social Work office for validation.  Forms will then be forwarded on to SPT for issuing of the card.

Young People

Please contact your Local Youth Enquiry Service or visit the Young Scot website.