Disabled Person Railcard

RSISolutions · January 2023

According to a BBC Sounds MoneyBox Podcast (I can't rember which one), not all the eligibity criteria for a disabled persons rail card is on the website where you would purchase the card. There are other conditions too for which you can get the railcard. Does a Scope advisor know what these are please? Some of the additional ones were mentioned on the podcast.

poppy123456 · January 2023

Having had a disabled persons railcard myself in the past, i'm not aware of the criteria being any different to what it states on their website. Conditions such as eplilepsy, hearing/visual impairment will qualify you. https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/are-you-eligible/

The trainline website also states the criteria is exactly the same https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/great-britain/railcards/disabled-persons-railcard

RSISolutions · January 2023

Hi Poppy. Thanks for your comment.

According to the BBC Podcast 'Money Box' the company that has been put in charge of administrating the railcard hasnt properly advertised on it's website (https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/) all the conditions which make you elibile to get the card. Some have been missed out.

If you have a condition/impairment/disabilty not mentioned on the website, and feel you would benefit from having one, they recommended applying for one anyway. If the request is declined, then they recommended appealing. Appealing would put you in contact with someone who would (hopefully) know the full list of conditions which make you eligible.

They also mentioned Scope on the podcast as an organisation to contact if you were not getting anywhere with it

poppy123456 · January 2023

I agree that anyone can apply but whether you're successful is another matter, the same as a blue badge.

This is the scope community. They also have a helpline where you can speak to someone, or contact them through email.

Other ways to get in touch

Call: 0808 800 3333

Email: helpline@scope.org.uk

Use a British Sign Language Interpreter

Write to us at Scope, Here East Press Centre, 14 East Bay Lane, London E15 2GW

RSISolutions · January 2023

Hi Poppy. Thanks for your reply.

I was hoping a Scope advisor would come on here and provide a reply after, perhaps, doing a bit of research into the matter.

L_Volunteer · January 2023

We would love to come on here and provide a reply after doing a bit of research into the matter @RSISolutions.

Is there a particular reason you are asking these questions at the moment - for example, do you have needs and conditions that are not addressed by the criteria on the railcard website?

I am sure this is quite open-ended. This means we would need to know more about your specific situation before we are able to provide you with the best possible support.

In the meantime, as Poppy has pointed out, Scope also has a helpline. The helpline is a different department within Scope that you might feel more comfortable talking to.

Take care for now and we will look forward to, hopefully, hearing from you again soon when we can provide you with some further support

poppy123456 · January 2023

The scope helpline advisors do not post on the community. If you're unable to use the phone then i'd advise you to email them and they will respond that way.

RSISolutions · January 2023

Thank you @L_Volunteer. Yes I have a condition that is not listed on the on the website and also I think the community would benefit in knowing what other conditions make you eligible for the railcard.

Alex_Alumni · January 2023

I'm sure the community would benefit from that knowledge @RSISolutions, thanks for posting your query.

They also mentioned Scope on the podcast as an organisation to contact if you were not getting anywhere with it

I've made a note so we can look into which department might know more about this within Scope, and I can see the Helpline contact details have been helpfully shared on the thread.

If we do find any information next week, we'll be sure to share it

Can you remember when you first listened to the podcast? I've had a quick look at the most recent episodes, and I can't see anything about rail cards unfortunately.

RSISolutions · January 2023

Hi @Alex_Scope. Thanks for your reply. Unfortunatley I cant remember which BBC Sounds MoneyBox podcast it was. It wasnt necessarily any of the latest ones.

poppy123456 · January 2023

Out of curiosity was this quite and old podcast from several years ago?

Only asking because I found a forum with the same question but it was from several years or more ago.

RSISolutions · January 2023

Hi @poppy123456.

It would be one of the BBC Sounds MoneyBox podcasts no more than 6 months old. I dont think I went back many pages on their website.

poppy123456 · January 2023

RSISolutions said:

Hi @poppy123456.

It would be one of the BBC Sounds MoneyBox podcasts no more than 6 months old. I dont think I went back many pages on their website.

Then this isn’t the first time it’s been on there. All I can advise is to apply and see how you get on.

Hannah_Alumni · January 2023

Through amazing work across many of our teams here at Scope this is the advice our policy team gave on the subject.

The Disabled Persons Railcard has particular eligibility criteria which includes conditions like epilepsy or a hearing/visual impairment as receipt of certain benefits.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) therefore request proof of this, either through providing a benefit entitlement letter or other kinds of evidence like a certificate of visual impairment to process people’s applications. The list of proof they require can be found on their website.

However, we’ve heard both anecdotally and from groups like the MS society that people with conditions like Multiple Sclerosis can get the disabled persons railcard by providing their diagnosis as proof, and they do not need to be receiving any benefits.

The disabled persons railcard website does not currently list this.

The most recent update to the disabled persons railcard website has been to state that under the Equality Act, individuals with ‘progressive conditions’ are eligible, if they meet at least one of the criteria listed. This includes e.g., being in receipt of PIP or other benefits.

The website still does not state that there are conditions that make you automatically eligible, just on the basis of a condition, regardless of whether you’re in receipt of benefits.

We would suggest that you contact the Rail Delivery Group and discuss with them the challenges you face travelling by train.

We hope this helps

SteveJF7 · January 2023

You could ask your doctor to provide a letter on your behalf explaining why you should be eligible for a disabled railcard.

It worked for me.

RSISolutions · January 2023

Thank you @SteveJF7. Did you pay your doctor for the letter? If yes, can you remember how much you paid?

SteveJF7 · January 2023

I was fortunate to have a brilliant doctor to call on! She didn't ask for payment for any letter. Sadly, she had to leave the practice due to personal reasons during the first lockdown. 😞

You got nothing to lose by asking.

RSISolutions · February 2023

I got in touch with National Rail about the rail card. I got a standard reply and then escalated the issue.

Here is their reply after escalation.

Thanks for your response regarding your complaint registered with us and I apologise for the delay in responding. I appreciate your patience and for giving us an opportunity to assist you.

I was sorry to learn that you are unhappy with our previous response and I understand that you want to raise a complaint.

I can confirm that a Disabled Persons Railcard application will be accepted if the applicant can prove eligibility via any one of the criteria mentioned on our website.

The current eligibility criteria for the Railcard were signed off by the Department for Transport in 2012. This was done in conjunction with the Train Operating Companies and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), as well as the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee. This scheme is currently under review.

In conclusion, there are many customers who feel they are deserving of a Disabled Persons Railcard but at present, we can only accept applicants that meet the eligibility criteria that is in place.

While I understand that this may not be the answer you were looking for, I trust I was able to clarify the situation for you. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Kind regards

*removed by moderator - personal details*
National Rail - Senior Advisor

Hannah_Alumni · February 2023

Hello @RSISolutions

Just to let you know, I edited the name out of the email reply you received as it was someone's personal details.

littleacorn · March 2023

I have had afew rail cards and just renewed 2 weeks ago. I completed the form on line and sent a copy of my PIP award. I have a rare condition which is never included in any list which has never prevented me from geting any disability card.

RSISolutions · March 2023

Hi @littleacorn. Thank you for your contribution.

You were awarded the railcard because you have been awarded PIP. It is one of the railcard eligibility criteria listed on the railcard website.

This thread is about people getting the railcard even though they dont have any of the things listed on the website as an eligibility.

Disabled Person Railcard

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