All the help for older people in Bristol, on one page.
Why this page? Bristol City Council handles all of this: bus passes, Blue Badges, Council Tax Reduction, crisis payments and Careline. We've put it on one page.
You can claim with savings or investments of up to £16,000. Pensioner claims are automatically backdated by up to three months.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Council Tax ReductionCrisis Payment Scheme (Bristol's Crisis and Resilience Fund payments).
You won't have to pay anything back. Paid as supermarket vouchers for food, clothing and essentials. One per 12 months.
Apply online. Get your application in by 12 noon for a same-day answer by 5pm.
It's for food, clothing and essentials, not ongoing bills.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Crisis Payment SchemeBristol City Council. You must live in the Bristol City Council area and be of State Pension age. You can apply up to 30 days before.
Journeys starting in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4am the next day, and any time at weekends and on public holidays. Elsewhere in England: Monday to Friday 9:30am to 11pm, any time at weekends and on public holidays.
Renewal is automatic if you've used it in the last year. The new card arrives at least two weeks before the old one runs out.
bus.passes@bristol.gov.uk, 0117 922 2600.
Yes, if you can't travel on public transport, or walk to a stop and get on or off a bus, without help. Ask when you apply for an older person's pass. You'll need medical evidence. The companion must travel with you for the whole journey, and free companion travel may not apply outside Bristol, South Gloucestershire, B&NES and North Somerset.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Use your bus passAssessment should take no more than 8 weeks. Usually issued for 3 years.
Reapply on GOV.UK before it expires.
No phone number is listed. Contact is by the Blue Badge contact form. You can ask the council to reconsider.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Get free help with your Blue Badge applicationBristol Careline is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 0117 922 3269.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Every fact here comes from an official page, linked next to it: Bristol City Council and GOV.UK. We checked every link and quote on 12 Oct 2026. Where we could not confirm something, we give you the number to call and what to ask.
Spotted something out of date? Email careteam@helpalert24.co.uk
