Turning 60 checklist: what to claim and do

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

Sixty is when the first age-related discounts and free services begin. Print this page, tick things off as you do them, and follow the links for the detail. What you get depends partly on where in the UK you live, so each line says where it applies.

Travel

• Buy a Senior Railcard for a third off most rail fares in Great Britain. Check it pays for itself with the railcard calculator.
• Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland: apply for your free bus pass, which starts at 60.
• London: apply for the 60+ London Oyster photocard.
• Rest of England: the bus pass starts at State Pension age, not 60. Check your date with the State Pension age checker and ask your council about any local scheme.
• Look at a coach discount card if you travel by coach.

Health

• England: NHS prescriptions are now free. Tick the age box on the back of the prescription. (They are already free for everyone in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.)
• Book a free NHS sight test: free from 60 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for everyone in Scotland.
• If you had a prescription prepayment certificate in England, let it run out and do not renew it.

Shopping and days out

• Start asking "do you have a concession price?" at cinemas, theatres, attractions, hairdressers and leisure centres. Carry proof of age. See the full list of over-60s discounts.
• Check the offers at the shops you already use: shop-by-shop answers.
• Ask your council leisure centre about concession rates for swimming and the gym.
• Compare senior and joint memberships before renewing any heritage or days-out membership.

Money and paperwork

• Get a State Pension forecast on GOV.UK and check your National Insurance record for gaps while there is still time to fill them.
• Find your State Pension age and date, and put it in the diary.
• If you have a long-term condition, check VAT relief on mobility aids. From 60, some aids fitted in your home also qualify for a reduced rate.
• Make or update your will, and think about a lasting power of attorney while it is easy to do.
• Run a quick benefits check if your income is low: see the benefits checklist.

Staying safe

• Read how to spot a scam. Criminals target people around retirement, especially over pensions.
• Set up two-step verification on your email and banking.

Next: the State Pension age checklist and the turning 75 checklist. The full guide to this birthday is what you get at 60.

Common questions

Do I get a free bus pass at 60?

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, yes. In London you can get a 60+ Oyster photocard. In the rest of England the national bus pass starts at State Pension age.

Do I have to apply for free prescriptions?

No. In England you simply declare your age on the prescription form, and the pharmacy may ask for proof.

Is there a pension I can claim at 60?

Not the State Pension, which starts at State Pension age. Many workplace and personal pensions can be taken earlier: MoneyHelper and Pension Wise give free, impartial guidance.