Disabled Railcard Application Criteria

[williamm1996]

Split from:

Expansion of Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility

No. Absolutely not. Many people will have a far more challenging experience travelling by rail even if with staff assistance provided (more accurately described as being forced to rely on staff for assistance). A discount recognising that is reasonable and fair. Only just over 50% have some...

www.railforums.co.uk

Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility is due to be expanded from next year. The following text has appeared on the "are you eligible" page for the Disabled Persons Railcard:

There hasn't been a government announcement yet (as far as I can see) so I am guessing this has gone up a bit too early?

Hi, sorry to jump in. I was wondering if anyone has similar experiences. I’ve tried to apply for a disabled rail card but I don’t match any of the disabilities listed currently. I called them and asked and they said to just ‘select the option closest to my disability’ which I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. Basically I have diagnoses of bad adhd and anxiety. I can only take short train journeys and have to drive for most of my commute. I have read online in various places that if you have my conditions listed above then you can qualify if you send In proof of your disability. I am just wondering if there is anyone here who has been granted the disabled rail card who has the same conditions as I do? I know if you claim pip you qualify which I have applied for but I haven’t heard back yet if I’ll be eligible for pip and I know that can take up to 12 weeks

 

[CyrusWuff]

Based on the Expansion to the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility criteria page on the website, I'd suggest that's likely to come as part of the second phase later this year. Breaking it into two stages means they could deal with the easier parts first.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Hi, sorry to jump in. I was wondering if anyone has similar experiences. I’ve tried to apply for a disabled rail card but I don’t match any of the disabilities listed currently.

There is no "list of disabilities" for the railcard. Eligibility is (in general) based on how your disability affects you, not on what name your disability has.

The eligibility criteria expanded yesterday. The current list of eligiblity criteria is:

• receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment(CDP) at either:
  • the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or
  • the higher or middle rate for the care component
• have a visual impairment
• have a hearing impairment
• have epilepsy
• receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
• receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability
• buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme
• receive a Disabled Persons Bus Pass in England, Scotland or Wales
• receive a London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass
• have a Blue Badge   
• are currently unable to drive on medical grounds 
• receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) benefits 
• receive Industrial Injuries Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher
• are without speech
• receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment(CDP) at either:
  • the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or
  • the higher or middle rate for the care component
• have a visual impairment
• have a hearing impairment
• have epilepsy
• receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
• receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability
• buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme
• receive a Disabled Persons Bus Pass in England, Scotland or Wales
• receive a London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass
• have a Blue Badge   
• are currently unable to drive on medical grounds 
• receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) benefits 
• receive Industrial Injuries Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher
• are without speech

If you don't meet any of those criteria, you will have to wait and see what happens. There is a second phase of eligibility changes pencilled in for September, including some changes for people with neurodiversity which significantly affects their ability to travel by train. But there are no further details as yet.

 

[williamm1996]

There is no "list of disabilities" for the railcard. Eligibility is (in general) based on how your disability affects you, not on what name your disability has.

The eligibility criteria expanded yesterday. The current list of eligiblity criteria is:

If you don't meet any of those criteria, you will have to wait and see what happens. There is a second phase of eligibility changes pencilled in for September, including some changes for people with neurodiversity which significantly affects their ability to travel by train. But there are no further details as yet.

Thanks for your reply. Yes sadly my conditions don’t come under anything even close on here. I’ve applied for pip but can’t select that as an option yet as I’m still waiting to hear whether I’ve been approved for pip which I’m not sure I will be. Strange how the person on the phone at Railcard just told me to click the closest one to my disability as if that’s gonna get me anywhere!

 

[tomoufc]

Split from:

Expansion of Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility

No. Absolutely not. Many people will have a far more challenging experience travelling by rail even if with staff assistance provided (more accurately described as being forced to rely on staff for assistance). A discount recognising that is reasonable and fair. Only just over 50% have some...

www.railforums.co.uk

Hi, sorry to jump in. I was wondering if anyone has similar experiences. I’ve tried to apply for a disabled rail card but I don’t match any of the disabilities listed currently. I called them and asked and they said to just ‘select the option closest to my disability’ which I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. Basically I have diagnoses of bad adhd and anxiety. I can only take short train journeys and have to drive for most of my commute. I have read online in various places that if you have my conditions listed above then you can qualify if you send In proof of your disability. I am just wondering if there is anyone here who has been granted the disabled rail card who has the same conditions as I do? I know if you claim pip you qualify which I have applied for but I haven’t heard back yet if I’ll be eligible for pip and I know that can take up to 12 weeks

Hello. Just wondering if you have an update, as I also have ADHD. Thank you

 

[AlterEgo]

Hello. Just wondering if you have an update, as I also have ADHD. Thank you

Unless you meet the current criteria - which are narrow and strict - the advice in Post 2 will be most relevant. The criteria will expand sometime later this year.

The current criteria are:

• receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment(CDP) at either:
  • the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or
  • the higher or middle rate for the care component
• have a visual impairment
• have a hearing impairment
• have epilepsy
• receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
• receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability
• buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme
• receive a Disabled Persons Bus Pass in England, Scotland or Wales
• receive a London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass
• have a Blue Badge   
• are currently unable to drive on medical grounds 
• receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) benefits 
• receive Industrial Injuries Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher
• are without speech

If you don't meet any of those you can't currently have a Disabled Railcard and will need to see if you are covered when the scheme expands.

 

[kijeta]

This doesn't fit with OP's case, but for others (e.g. #5): with both ADHD and Anxiety, your condition may or may not be severe enough to mean you "are currently unable to drive on medical grounds". If you are under a Mental Health CORE Team (note: not an abbreviation, not sure why it's in full caps but it's always capitalised like that in my medical notes so I trust them), you may wish to ask your assigned clinician for a letter stating that they have concerns about you driving.

 

[tomoufc]

Thanks all. Will see what emerges near September. Suspect I’ll be a borderline case.

 

[pennine]

I know it's a little soon. But just bumping this one up to see if there is any word of what is to come in September - any more information?

 

[tomoufc]

We’re nearly at September and no news yet: https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/eligibility-expansion/

I guess technically they could announce changes on 29 September and implement them on the 30th, and the linked statement would still be true. Does feel like it’s delayed though.

 

[Adam Williams]

Last I heard was that it'd still be happening in September. No detail on specifics, though