The rollout is being implemented in stages and will be fully completed by 2028, when the pension age reaches 67.
Residents of London, however, have a way around the national rules. By applying for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, they can access complimentary travel across the capital from the age of 60.
The picture is also different in the devolved nations. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, free bus pass eligibility operates entirely independently of the State Pension age.