Over-60s shopping and discounts: your questions answered
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
Short, straight answers to the questions we are asked most, each with a link to the full guide. Amounts and prices are on the guide pages, where they are dated.
Discounts and travel
What discounts can I get when I turn 60?
At 60 you can buy a Senior Railcard for a third off most rail fares in Great Britain, and many shops, cinemas, attractions and leisure centres start their concession prices at 60. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the free bus pass also starts at 60, and Londoners can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard. NHS prescriptions and sight tests are free from 60 in England. Read the guide: What you get at 60: free prescriptions, travel and more.
When do I get a free bus pass?
In England outside London the older person's bus pass starts at State Pension age, which is 66 and rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028 depending on your date of birth. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it starts at 60. You apply through your local council, or the national scheme in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read the guide: Free Bus Pass for Older People: Age Rules by Nation.
Is a Senior Railcard worth buying?
It usually pays for itself quickly: it takes a third off most standard and first class fares, so a handful of medium-length return journeys a year is normally enough. Our calculator works out the break-even point from your own fares. Read the guide: Senior Railcard calculator: will it pay for itself?.
Do I need proof of age to get a senior discount?
Often, yes. Carry something with your date of birth on it: a photocard driving licence, a passport, your bus pass or a Senior Railcard. Many discounts are not advertised, so it is always worth asking "do you have a concession price?" before you pay. Read the guide: Over-60s Discounts: The Complete UK Guide.
Are over-60s discounts the same everywhere in the UK?
No. Travel concessions, prescriptions, sight tests and several benefits are run separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and shop offers vary by retailer and sometimes by branch. Our discount finder shows what applies where you live. Read the guide: Discount finder: what can you get at your age?.
Money and entitlements
What is Pension Credit and why does it matter so much?
Pension Credit tops up the income of people over State Pension age who have a low income. It is worth claiming even if you would only get a small amount, because it opens the door to other help, such as a free TV licence at 75, the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments, help with NHS costs and Council Tax Reduction. Read the guide: Pension Credit: who qualifies and how to claim.
Who gets a free TV licence?
You can get a free TV licence if you are 75 or over and you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit. Everyone else aged 75 and over pays the standard fee. Read the guide: Free TV licence at 75: who qualifies and how to apply.
Are prescriptions free for over-60s?
In England, prescriptions are free once you are 60. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prescriptions are free for everyone, whatever their age. Read the guide: Free prescriptions, sight tests and dental help at 60.
Can I buy mobility aids without paying VAT?
If you have a long-term illness or disability, many products designed for disabled people can be bought VAT-free: you sign a simple declaration for the supplier. Age alone does not qualify, but if you are 60 or over, certain mobility aids fitted in your home, such as grab rails, ramps and stairlifts, can be supplied and installed at a reduced rate of VAT. Read the guide: VAT relief on mobility aids: who pays 0% or 5%.
How do I find out everything I am entitled to?
Use an independent benefits calculator, or ask Citizens Advice or Age UK for a free benefits check. Our checklist lists the main entitlements to ask about, and the pages for each age show what starts when. Read the guide: Benefits checklist for over-60s: what to claim.
Shopping rights
Can I return something I bought in a shop if I change my mind?
Only if the shop's own returns policy allows it: there is no legal right to return goods bought in person just because you changed your mind. If the item is faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you 30 days to reject it for a full refund. Read the guide: Returns and refunds: shop policy versus your legal rights.
What are my rights when I buy online?
For most things bought online, by phone or by mail order you have 14 days from the day you receive them to cancel for any reason, and then 14 days to send them back. There are exceptions, including personalised items, perishable goods and sealed items opened for hygiene reasons. Read the guide: Your consumer rights: the Consumer Rights Act explained.
Is it safer to pay by credit card?
For purchases over £100 and up to £30,000, paying on a credit card gives you extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act: the card company is jointly liable if something goes wrong. For smaller amounts and debit cards, you can ask your bank for a chargeback. Read the guide: Paying safely online: cards, PayPal and bank transfers.
Someone sold me something on my doorstep and I regret it. Can I cancel?
Usually, yes. Contracts worth more than £42 agreed at your home or away from the trader's premises normally come with a 14-day cooling-off period, and the trader must tell you about it in writing. Read the guide: Doorstep selling: your rights and how to handle cold callers.
Staying safe
How do I know if a text or call is a scam?
Be suspicious of any message that rushes you, asks for bank details or a PIN, or tells you to move money to a "safe account": a real bank or the police will never ask for that. Do not click links in unexpected texts. Hang up, wait a few minutes and call the organisation on a number you trust. Read the guide: Spotting scams: parcel texts, fake refunds and courier fraud.
What should I do if I think I have been scammed?
Contact your bank straight away: dialling 159 connects you safely to most UK banks. Then report it to the national fraud reporting service, or to Police Scotland on 101 if you live in Scotland. You can forward suspicious texts free to 7726. Read the guide: Spotting scams: parcel texts, fake refunds and courier fraud.
Is it safe to shop online?
Yes, if you stick to retailers you know, type the web address yourself or use a bookmark, check for the padlock before you enter card details, and pay by card rather than bank transfer. Our beginners' guide walks through a first order step by step. Read the guide: Online shopping safety: how to check a website is genuine.
Will my landline stop working?
The old copper landline network is being replaced by calls carried over broadband. Your phone and number can stay the same, but a digital line will not work in a power cut without a backup, and you must tell your provider if you rely on a personal alarm or telecare device. Read the guide: Landline digital switchover: what you need to know.
About this site
Who runs Grey Shopper, and is it free?
Grey Shopper is an independent guide published by Centraserve Ltd. It is free to read. Some pages carry a link to a product on Amazon: if you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We are not connected with any retailer, charity or government body. Read the guide: About Grey Shopper.
How up to date is the information?
Every guide shows when it was last checked. Offers, prices and benefit rules change, sometimes at short notice, so always confirm with the retailer or the official source before you rely on something. If you spot an error or a discount we have missed, please tell us. Read the guide: Contact.
Still stuck?
Try the search, the jargon buster or the discount finder. If you think something on the site is wrong or missing, tell us.