Freedom pass application form

Who can apply

Adults and children over the age of 5 who meet the criteria can apply. 

Your permanent place of residence must be within the London Borough of Sutton

Automatic Eligibility

You will qualify automatically if you receive the following benefits:

• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): 
  • Moving Around Component: you must receive 8 points or more. (The planning and following a journey component of PIP does not apply and cannot be considered)
  • Communicating Verbally Activity: you must receive 8 points or more
• War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

Complete entitlement letters giving a breakdown of benefits must be submitted with the application.

The award of the benefit has been given for at least 12 months or is expected to be for at least 12 months.

Other criteria 

You can apply if you:

• are registered or registerable as blind or partially sighted, (CVI or BD8 form required)
• are profoundly or severely deaf (confirmation by your GP or consultant audiologist). You will not be eligible for a Freedom Pass if you are registerable as hard of hearing.
• are without speech (medical evidence required)  
• have a disability or injury which has a long-term effect on your ability to walk, causing you to walk with excessive labour (medical evidence required) 
• have long-term loss of the use of both arms (medical evidence required)
• have a moderate or severe learning disability, you must meet the criteria for registration with Sutton’s Register for People with Learning Disabilities.  Your disability will have started before adulthood
  • or you will qualify if you can travel safely but you are unable to buy a ticket either:
    • you have a serious communication difficulty and you can't say where you want to go 
    • because you are unable to use money
    (written confirmation of registration or moderate/severe learning disability required)
• If you applied for a driving licence under the Road Traffic Act your application would be refused on the ground’s of medical fitness (excluding persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol). Those currently barred from holding a licence include people with:
  • A severe mental disorder
  • Epilepsy (unless it is of a type that does not pose a danger)
  You will need to provide evidence of refusal If you have not had a driving licence refused or revoked, evidence will be required to prove that you are medically not fit to drive

Freedom Passes are issued in line with the central principle of the Equalities Act 2010.  The types of disability that enable people to claim the statutory minimum are those which are permanent or which have lasted at least 12 months and which have a substantial effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

If you have any questions you can contact the us by: 

• email concessionarytravel@sutton.gov.uk
• telephone 020 8770 4578
  (we are not available by phone Tuesday & Thursday afternoons)

 Provide 1 copy of the following documents as proof of your address:

• current council tax bill, letter or payment book
• current council or housing association rent book, statement, letter or tenancy agreement
• current television licence
• utility bill or letter (excluding mobile phone bills) dated within the last 3 months
• HM Revenue and Customs letter dated within the last 3 months
• Department for Work and Pensions letter dated within the last 3 months 

Provide 1 copy of the following documents as proof of your identity:

• your birth certificate (unless your name has changed for example, if you married)
• your marriage certificate
• your medical card
• your passport
• European ID card

Please also enclose a recent passport standard photograph (taken within 3 months)

A copy of your care plan confirming your attendance should be enclosed.

I declare that to the best of my belief all the statements I have made on this form are true and I agree to Sutton Social Services Department contacting my G.P. if necessary for the purpose of obtaining information in support of my application.

You will need to upload a copy of each of the following:

• document that you are a resident of the borough of Sutton
• passport standard photograph
• document confirming your identity and date of birth

If you automatically qualify, you will need to upload a copy of 1 of the following: 

• document confirming that you are receiving the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, or mobility component of PIP, or war pensioner’s mobility supplement
• CVI, BD8 or evidence from an ophthalmologist if appropriate
• Audiologist report if appropriate

If applying under any other criteria, you will need to upload a copy of 1 of the following: 

• medical evidence if applying due to a physical disability
• written confirmation that you would be refused a driving license due to a severe mental disorder or epilepsy (unless it is of a type that does not pose a danger)
• written confirmation of a moderate or severe learning disability or registration with Sutton’s Register for People with Learning Disabilities

Please allow 12 weeks for processing your application.

I understand that the London Borough of Sutton Council is under a duty to protect the Public Funds it administers. As such, the information provided on this form is subject to being used for the prevention and detection of Fraud.

If you wish to know more about how your information is used by the London Borough of Sutton Council, you can view our privacy statement or ask a member of staff for further information.