Disabled Persons Railcard

[Arcadian]

A friend who works on the railways, recently gave me the pamphlet for a disabled persons railcard.
Checked the website, but without being (presently) in receipt of PIP, I'm ineligible.

I listened to BBC Radio 4 Moneybox programme last week and they had a feature on it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001d4my

I queried it via the Railcards 'contact us' and got referred back to the eligibility criteria (PIP).

Have decided to highlight the issue further...

[denise]

This is stupid. That means that anyone who has retired and not in receipt of pip, like my husband, would also not qualify.

[Artie]

For those who do get PIP, the proof needs to be dated within the last twelve months. As I got my PIP award over a year ago, looks like I can’t get a disabled railcard either.

[denise]

Doesn't mention ds1500 either which considering I used that for Stephen's disability parking and disability parking space I would have thought that would be proof. My husband did have attendance allowance but now that's gone because hes in a care home. So he cant run away and enjoy cheap rail travel. 🤔

[Arcadian]

Eligibility criteria for disabled railcard:-

https://www.disabledpersons-railcard...-you-eligible/

Do the MNDA have a position / input into criteria, MNDConnect ?

[Zante]

Have looked into this and the proof of receipt of PIP in the last 12 months isn't that it needs to have been awarded in the last 12 months. But you need proof that you are in receipt of it. So if you have had a letter stating any increase of payment( yeah right!!) Or anything from dwp with your pip stated in the letter within last year then that is sufficient.

Makes sense because someone who had become disabled say 5 years previously would never get anything otherwise! Just that the paperwork needs to be recent. Hope this helps.

[Ellie]

Good work, Detective Zante

[Zante]

Ellie I do try!! Xx makes a difference if someone wants to get one but assumed they couldn't. Although what with strikes and costs of trains.... x

[Artie]

Thanks Zante that’s good news. I found the eligibility criteria slightly confusing.

[Zante]

That's ok Artie. Hope you are successful if you want to get the railcard. I haven't been on a train since childhood. For some bizarre reason they make me feel seasick!! Can't figure that one out.

[Arcadian]

That's ok Artie. For some bizarre reason they make me feel seasick!! Can't figure that one out.

Zante
It's the depth of the window and seeing the opposite rails in peripheral vision as an artificial horizon.
High speed tilting trains have the base of the window higher up to try and avoid this - particularly as the train tilts, your side vision (brain) sees the rails on the parallel track seem to vary in height and makes you feel sea-sick.

[Zante]

Arcadian I feel I learn something new everyday!! makes sense. I just know to avoid travelling on them personally.

[Arcadian]

Tried the Disabled Persons Railcard phoneline and just got referred back in circles to requiring receipt of PIP / Motability to qualify (I have 2 incurable illnesses that a pension provider pays out on as a disiblity directly referenced to The Equality Act 2010).

BBC researcher is also pushing the same issue since the Moneybox Radio 4 programme...

[Arcadian]

BBC Radio 4 Moneybox person had referred my case to the Rail Delivery Group.
I accessed my medical records for a Consultant to Doctor diagnosis / symptoms letter (I have nothing in writting to say I have 2x recognised disabilities and don't at present claim PIP).

I submitted the diagnosis letter (data retention concerns) and got allocated an order number to purchase a Disabled Persons Railcard.
Did it over the phone, as it would have been further 'not compliance' tick box steps to try to proceed online.

The system still needs an overhaul...

[Ellie]

BBC Radio 4 Moneybox person had referred my case to the Rail Delivery Group.

I submitted the diagnosis letter (data retention concerns) and got allocated an order number to purchase a Disabled Persons Railcard.

Good for you; you saw an injustice and did something about it 👏💪