Free Merseytravel pass
FreeDisability
Free bus, train and Mersey Ferries travel in Merseyside for young people with a qualifying disability, including a learning disability.
🚌 Travel help in Liverpool
Help with getting to school, college or training for young people with SEND who live in Liverpool. Travel support depends on where the young person lives, not where the school or college is.
✔ Checked October 2026⚡ Liverpool at a glance
Post-16 charge
£680 a year
Only if the council arranges transport. £340 for families on a low income. Can be paid in instalments.
Personal transport budget
£3 a day + 45p a mile
Paid to the parent or carer, for up to two journeys a day within Liverpool.
Travel training
Liverpool City Council
For young people up to 18 who already qualify for transport.
Decision time
5 working days
Up to 15 more if extra evidence is needed. Longer if medical evidence is involved.
Source: Based on Liverpool City Council's 2026–27 home to school transport policy and post-16 transport statement.
👥 Who can get help
Up to 16
School age
Pupils with special educational needs up to age 16 on 1 September of the year they apply. Uses the council's SEND home to school transport application.
16 to 18
Post-16
Students aged 16–18 in education who have an EHCP. Uses the same application form. Everyone moving into post-16 must reapply, even if they are staying at the same school or college.
19 to 25
Adult
Transport for students aged 19–25 is discussed through an adult social care assessment, not the school transport form.
What the council looks at
A child or young person may be eligible if they attend their nearest suitable school or college and have a long or short-term disability that means they cannot reasonably be expected to walk, or if a parent or partner is disabled and cannot go with them. Each case is assessed individually, with or without an EHCP.
🔍 Try these first
Before applying, the council asks families to look at these options first:
Independent travel training
IndependenceUp to 18
Practical, one-to-one training to learn a regular journey safely.
Personal transport budget
Family drivesFlexible
A payment of £3 a day plus 45p a mile so families can make their own travel arrangements.
🧭 What help might be offered
If the application is successful, the council may offer one of these:
- A bus pass, but only if a free Merseytravel pass cannot be used for the journey.
- A walking route with support from an escort or travel buddy.
- Independent travel training.
- A personal transport budget of £3 a day plus 45p a mile, for up to two journeys a day within Liverpool.
- A minibus, dedicated school transport or taxi, only if none of the above is suitable. Passenger assistants are provided where supervision is needed and have enhanced DBS checks.
💷 Costs
Full charge
£680 a year
A flat fee, whatever the number of days the student travels.
Low-income families
£340 a year
A 50% reduction for families who meet the low-income criteria.
Paying
Instalments available
Payment is requested once the application has been processed.
Good to know: the charge only applies if the student is given council-arranged transport, such as a minibus or taxi. A free Merseytravel pass, travel training or a personal transport budget does not trigger it.
Help with the cost: ask the school, college or training provider about the 16–19 Bursary Fund.
Low-income criteria: the exact qualifying benefits and income limits are set out in the council's post-16 transport statement. Check the 2026–27 statement (PDF) or email the SEN travel team.
📝 How to apply
- Check the options firstLook at the free Merseytravel pass, travel training and personal transport budget above.
- Apply onlineParents and carers apply using the council's online form for SEND children up to 18.
- Initial reviewThe council reviews the application within 5 working days.
- Further assessment if neededThis can take up to 15 more working days, and longer where medical evidence is needed.
- Decision by emailThe email explains the outcome, what travel support is offered and how to appeal.
Important: parents and carers are responsible for getting the young person to school or college safely and on time until the assessment is finished and travel support starts.
🚶 Travel training in Liverpool
Liverpool City Council runs independent travel training for young people up to 18 who can't currently get to school or college independently because of their SEND.
- Who can refer: a parent, teacher, tutor or anyone who works with or cares for the young person.
- Who qualifies: the young person must already qualify for free home to school transport because of their SEND.
- What it covers: planning a journey, personal and road safety, walking routes, timetables and visual aids, asking for help and using money.
- How it works: a trainer visits for an initial assessment, parents are involved from the start, and the young person is signed off with a certificate once the trainer is confident.
Make a referral
Online form
Refer a young person for travel training online.
Ask the travel training team
Email
Email itt@liverpool.gov.uk with any questions.
⚖️ If you disagree with a decision
How to appeal is explained in the email the council sends with its decision. The appeals guide sets out the process and what happens at an appeal hearing.
📎 Documents, forms and contacts
Apply for SEND home to school transport
Council page
The council's main page, with eligibility, costs and the online form.
Post-16 transport statement 2026–27
PDF16–25
For learners aged 16–18 and students aged 19–25 with learning difficulties or disabilities.
Home to school transport policy 2026–27
PDFUp to 16
The policy for pupils of compulsory school age.
Appeals guide 2026–27
PDFAppeals
How to appeal a travel support decision.
SEND transport handbook
PDFCode of conduct
Expected standards for pupils, families, schools, passenger assistants and drivers.