PENSIONERS could be confused by an increase in minimum age for bus passes because it was not publicised properly, councillors and charity workers have warned.

A national rule change from April 6 will see people in Derbyshire born after April 5, 1955, having to wait until they are 65 to get their Gold Card, instead of 60.

It is being brought in as part of Government plans to bring age-related benefits into line with the state pension age increasing to 65 for women.

The card for the elderly and some disabled people provides discounted rail travel, lower library fees and doubles as a national travel card which gives free bus travel across the country.

People who are nearly 60 will not have to wait until they are 65 to receive their pass but will have to wait either weeks or months, with different age groups becoming eligible at 12 separate points over the next two years.

For example, people born between April 6, 1950, and May 5, 1950, would be eligible for the card on May 6, 2010.

And those born between March 6, 1951, and April 6, 1951, will be become eligible on March 6, 2012.

A Derbyshire County Council spokeswoman said the alternative would have been to make these people wait a full five years to get their pass.

Gill Farrington, chairperson of Swadlincote 50+ Forum, said the Government had not made the changes clear enough to pensioners.

She said: "It would have been helpful if, for example, we had been provided with leaflets we could get to pensioners so they would have understood what is happening."

Andy Findlay, a member of Derby's Older People's Advisory Group, said he had not known about the changes, despite his position.

Mr Findlay, 65, of Shelton Lock, said: "There are so many ways the Government could have let people know – doctors' surgeries, magazines, TV adverts – but they don't seem to have done it."

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said anyone wanting more information about the changes to bus passes could contact their local authority or log on to www.direct. gov.