BC Bus Pass Program

Effective: August 31, 2018

The bus pass for low-income seniors is an annual bus pass provided as a supplement under the EA and EAPWD Regulations for a fee.

The bus pass for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation is an ongoing bus pass provided under the EAPWD Transportation Supplement. In some circumstances, the bus pass for persons with the PWD designation is provided under the Transitional Transportation Support. [For more information, see Related Links - Transportation Supplement].

Bus Pass for persons with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Designation: 

For those clients eligible for the Transportation Supplement (TS) [for more information, see Related Links – Transportation Supplement – Policy] they can choose to receive the TS as an in-kind bus pass. This bus pass is valid based on a client’s eligibility for assistance that is established each month. The in-kind bus pass is delivered under the BC Bus Pass Program. There is no fee to access this bus pass.

The TS in-kind bus pass is provided to anyone who meets any of the following criteria:

• BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) recipients with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation who are receiving disability assistance (includes room and board, special care and comforts) or receiving hardship assistance.
• BCEA recipients with the PWD designation who meet all the eligibility requirements for the GIS (are 65 and over) except the 10 year residency and continue to receive disability assistance.
• Persons with the PWD designation who live on a First Nations reserve and receive assistance from the band office (in these cases, the band office staff should deal directly with staff from the Bus Pass Program).

Note: Recipients with the PWD designation, who are receiving disability assistance and turn 65 years of age, begin receiving Old Age Security (OAS)/Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and transition to Medical Services Only (MSO) can continue to receive a bus pass under the low-income seniors program. In the year they transition, there is no fee.

Bus Pass for Low-Income Seniors:

An annual bus pass (annual pass) for provincial transit systems is available through the Bus Pass Program at a reduced cost for persons who meet one of these criteria:

• 60 years or older and the spouse of a person with the Persons with Disabilities designation and are receiving disability assistance from the Province of British Columbia
• 60 years or older and receiving income assistance from the Province of British Columbia
• 60 years or older, living on a First Nations reserve and getting assistance from the band office
• 65 years or older and would qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) but does not meet the Canadian 10-year residency rule
• Receiving Old Age Security (OAS) and the GIS
• Receiving the federal spousal Allowance
• Receiving the federal Allowance for the Survivor.

Effective: January 1, 2018

Bus Pass for Low-Income Seniors: 

The annual bus pass is valid for one calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.

Bus Pass for persons with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Designation: 

• The ongoing bus pass is valid on a month by month basis.
• Clients can switch to a bus pass at any time and the bus pass will be valid for a subsequent month.
• Recipients who cease to be eligible for disability assistance may be able to keep their bus pass through the Transitional Transportation Support (TTS) or becoming eligible for bus pass for low income seniors. [More information on TTS eligibility, see Related Links – Transportation Supplement– Policy]

Effective: January 1, 2018

Bus Pass for Low-Income Seniors:

Eligible applicants are charged a low, non-refundable administrative fee for an annual bus pass.  The fee for an annual bus pass and for reissuing a lost pass is shown in Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs - Bus Pass Fees.  The ministry does not cover the cost of these fees.

There is no discount on the annual fee for a pass that is only used for part of the year or is purchased part way through the year.

Bus Pass for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Designation: 

NO FEE

Note: Recipients with the PWD designation, who are receiving disability assistance and turn 65 years of age, begin receiving OAS/GIS, and transition to MSO can continue to receive a bus pass under the low-income seniors program. In the year they transition, there is no fee.

Effective: March 4, 2013

Bus pass holders who lose their pass can request a replacement by contacting the  BC Bus Pass Program. [To request a replacement pass using the BC Bus Pass Program website or by telephone, see the Contacts section.] The fee for replacing a lost pass is shown in Rate Table: General Supplements - Bus Pass Fees.

Effective : February 27, 2019

[For more information, see Related Links – Individual Case Management – Policy – T5007 Tax Slip.]

Effective: January 1, 2018

To apply for a BC bus pass, new applicants must contact the BC Bus Pass Program by one of the following options:  the BC Bus Pass Program website, telephone, fax, email or mail (the BC Bus Pass Program has no public access office). [For online application instructions, telephone number, email, fax and mailing address, see Contacts.]

To administer the application process, BC Bus Pass Program staff follow these steps:

1. Determine if the applicant is eligible for an annual bus pass.

2. If the applicant is determined to be eligible, the applicant is mailed the form which explains the process to pay for the bus pass.

3. The applicant submits their annual administrative fee using one of the following payment options:

Online/Telephone Banking Payment (fastest method):  The applicant can make a payment through their financial institution by following these steps:

1. Choose the payee name the financial institution uses for BC BUS PASS PROGRAM.

2. Enter their nine digit Bus Pass Program Account Number which can be found on their bus pass or the top right hand corner of their BC Bus Pass Program application payment form.

3. Make a bill payment for the total amount to be paid.

Note:  The client is not required to submit the paper portion of the application when making an online or telephone payment.

Bank Payment:  The applicant can bring the bus pass application payment form and payment to most financial institutions to be processed.

Mail Payment:  The applicant can mail the application payment form and a cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance.

Note:  If at any time during the application process the applicant is determined to no longer be eligible, they will not be issued a bus pass and their administrative fee will be refunded.

1. Once the payment has been processed, a BC Bus Pass will be mailed to the new client, usually within three weeks of receiving payment.

Effective: July 27, 2023

In mid-August, clients that hold a current year bus pass will automatically have their eligibility determined for the next year. If eligible, they will be mailed an application payment form that explains the payment process.

Each applicant is required to pay a yearly $45 administrative fee.  BC Transit and TransLink clients receive a compass card. For TransLink users the card is reloaded with the benefits effective January 1^st once the client has ‘tapped’ the pass to activate. Clients residing in BC Transit service areas will also receive a sticker to attach to their compass card and if in the TransLink area, can tap to activate.

Effective: January 1, 2018

The Transportation Supplement (TS) is an ongoing bus pass that is provided under the EAPWD Act and Regulation for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) who are in receipt of disability assistance.  No annual renewal is required.

• Recipients who are PWD can choose to receive the TS as an in-kind (physical) bus pass or as $52 monthly by notifying the ministry by the 5^th of the month for the change to take effect the following month.
• EAWs are to record the recipient’s choice which will be processed by the system.
• An urgent request that cannot be processed through batch jobs can be done manually by exception with approval from a supervisor. 

[For information on the Transportation Supplement, see Related Links – Transportation Supplement.]