Revoked Driving License (medical) but cannot get disabled rail card

fish1076

My driving license was revoked due to poor eyesight, but I do not have a CVI and therefore cannot qualify for a disabled railcard. 

Does anyone have any advice on what to do? I asked the eye doctor and they seemed to only care about signing off CVIs with "significant impairment" whereas mine could only be considered "partial" but their general response to my question was not very clear to me. 

I am not sure when I will next meet the eye doctor.

It feels a bit silly that I am not able to drive but I do not qualify for a disabled rail card. Anyone else faced a similar issue?

PS: I have already obtained my freedom pass so that isn't an issue. 

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @fish1076

Welcome to the community!  

Have you had a look at all the eligibility requirements? I wondered if any of the other could apply?

They say;

If you are disabled or have a progressive medical condition you are eligible for the Disabled Persons Railcard if you:

• 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

fish1076

No, I do not qualify for the others, already looked at that

Hannah_Alumni

It may be worth reaching out to your local MP for support?  

fish1076

I gave RNIB a call and they said quite a few others are in a similar position. I do not really want to discuss it with my MP though. Does not seem worth the hassle.

L_Volunteer

You only need to do what you feel comfortable with @fish1076. I just think @Hannah_Scope was advising this because it could help. It sounds really difficult that you and a few others are in a similar position  What would you like to happen moving forwards with this? 

fish1076

Yeah, appreciate their advice. Ideally just for the requirements to be changed so that it includes people who are not able to drive due to medical reasons. 

2oldcodgers

You can buy a whole host of different rail cards that now cost £30 a year. That is only £10 more than the disabled card. 
I started off with a Friends & Family, then moved over to the OAP one then to the Disbaled card.
They all offer a similar reduction on the rail tickets 

Kimmy87

You can buy railcards, but not everyone fits into one of the catagories, as a disabled person in my 30's who travels alone, none of the available rail cards are an option for me. 

2oldcodgers

Kimmy87 said:

You can buy railcards, but not everyone fits into one of the catagories, as a disabled person in my 30's who travels alone, none of the available rail cards are an option for me. 

You would fit perfectly into two. Two Together and Family and Friends
There is no restriction if it is only yourself using them.
Both cost £30 per year. 

Jimm_Scope

I think  the issue with those two railcards @2oldcodgers is that they require other people to travel with you.

Two Together requires both railcard holders to be travelling together on the same journey. The Family and Friends railcard requires them to travel with a child who has their own ticket.

Not following these requirements makes the ticket ineligible and so you could be fined upwards of £100 for travelling on incorrect ticket.