Ongoing Evidence for Disabled Person's Railcard Renewal?

[gray1404]

Had a question from a friend this after I don't know the answer to. His has had a Disabled Person''s Railcard for many years and said he has never been asked to provide ongoing evidence he is entitled. Just renews it shortly before it expires. He said he had been getting it because he was getting Disability Living Allowance. He is now getting Personal Independence Payments but has never had to apply on this basis because he's just renewed. However, given the COVID-19 situation he has not used his railcard since March and is current one expires in September. He is considering letting it expire and only renewing it once he is using the train again.

However, he has asked me if this may mean he would then need to provide new and ongoing evidence of his entitlement each time he renews, whereas at the moment as he was formally receiving Disability Living Allowance, he can renew each year/3 years without any bother. He has asked what I think he should do in these circumstances. Is there a provision for people formally receiving Disability Living Allowance to just be able to continue to renew as long as they don't let their railcard ever expire?

 

[transportphoto]

Does your friend continue to meet the requirements/entitlement criteria? If so then they’ve no need to worry because they’ll have the evidence to buy a new one readily available if needed.

 

[M28361M]

According to the Railcard website, receipt of Personal Independence Payments means you are eligible, so your friend should be fine - they would just need to provide a copy of the award letter.

Info from:

Are You Eligible - Disabled Persons Railcard

www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk

I note on the renewals page it states:-

We reserve the right to ask you for current evidence of your entitlement to a Railcard – should this happen, please allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be approved.

So your friend may end up being asked for evidence at some point in the future anyway.

 

[mikeg]

To be honest, although the DWP are generally not very good to put it mildly, they're generally quite good at sending you statements of such things if you request them, such as when I had to get evidence of Jobseekers Allowance and the amount received a few years ago for tax purposes. Just means a good few minutes of listening to robotic Vivaldi (do they still play that?)

 

[onlinespotting]

If he can show an indefinite award of DLA dated in the last 12 months he can use it, even if moved to PIP on a lower award. If not he may be asked to prove his PIP entitlement. They may just renew it without asking for evidence.

 

[Welly]

I would advise your friend to renew his DPR in September rather than just let it expire. I renew mine every three years and I have never been asked to prove my eligibility for the DPR since I first applied for one just over 25 year ago.

 

[gray1404]

Thanks for your replies guys. Yes, he's getting PIP now but I've told him to renew it before it expires next month. Thus avoiding any gaps in validity and any possible complications. He's accepted this is the best way forward.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks for your replies guys. Yes, he's getting PIP now but I've told him to renew it before it expires next month. Thus avoiding any gaps in validity and any possible complications. He's accepted this is the best way forward.

That probably is the best way forward esp as maybe a bit more likley to use it going forward.
However, last year (pre covid) my mum's disabled railcard expired and there was a lapsed period of time - maybe up to 6 months, before needed a new one, and I rang the disabled person railcard telephone number for help renewing it and they were very helpful, just sorted it out over the phone, took payment, did not require me to submit new proofs of entitlement (she has on ongoing Attendance Allowance Award). IIRC I even rang on a sunday evening - the service provided by the person at the call centre was excellent.

 

[onlinespotting]

They rarely ask for evidence - if you have shown evidence in the past they sometimes continue to renew it which is why it’s best to get it three years at a time