Proof Of Disability Card - Thoughts Please

dori2o

I can see the benefits of such an idea, but I'd go one step further.

Receiving DLA opens up a number of avenues for other 'freebies', reductions, benefits (not state benefits). The only problem is you have to be claiming DLA.

There are many people out there who are disabled, who meet the various descriptors, would definately be entitled to the DLA/PIP and yet they choose not to claim it, for whatever reason that may be.

This means they lose out on these additional 'benefits'.

It would be beneficial to these people to be able to have something that shows they meet the set criteria for DLA/PIP, without needing to claim the money.

This would give these people equal footing, and could also save the Government money as I'm sure there are some people who only claim DLA/PIP in order to receive these other benefits.

DomRavioli

I think it is a rather stupid idea.

I have a "hidden" disability, I don't want a card which I could quite easily lose and is open to abuse by others. I also don't feel it necessary in the 21st century, I don't want to blare to everyone that I have a condition which limits my life, which I would carry in my purse/wallet and could easily be seen when not required. The ending of disability registers through local authorities have put a stop to this idea thank goodness.

If you are worried about ripping your DLA/PIP letter, get it laminated - solves all issues then, its waterproof, rip proof, you can even punch a hole in and have it on a keyring!

Oh and how are you going to ensure that it isn't abused, with the endless changes to benefit reforms (more will come with the next government) and getting places to accept such forms when the DLA/PIP letter is standardised and accepted by the majority of places?

dori2o

DomRavioli wrote: »

I think it is a rather stupid idea.

I have a "hidden" disability, I don't want a card which I could quite easily lose and is open to abuse by others. I also don't feel it necessary in the 21st century, I don't want to blare to everyone that I have a condition which limits my life, which I would carry in my purse/wallet and could easily be seen when not required. The ending of disability registers through local authorities have put a stop to this idea thank goodness.

If you are worried about ripping your DLA/PIP letter, get it laminated - solves all issues then, its waterproof, rip proof, you can even punch a hole in and have it on a keyring!

Oh and how are you going to ensure that it isn't abused, with the endless changes to benefit reforms (more will come with the next government) and getting places to accept such forms when the DLA/PIP letter is standardised and accepted by the majority of places?

You don't have to carry the card everywhere with you, only to places where you would use it to confirm receipt of benefit/disability.

I don't know what style of wallet/purse you have but in mine you cannot see the card details when they are in the card holder, you can even hide them in the zip compartment of my wallet.

Getting a laminated piece of A4 paper into my wallet would be a bit of a struggle.

Personally whilst the discounts/advantages that are provided by these companies/venues etc are more than welcome, something does not sit right with me that you can only get them if you are claiming disability benefits.

As I said above, many people are disabled and would qualify for such benefits yet choose not to claim. This then deprives them of receiving these advantages/discounts because they have chosen not to claim DLA/PIP etc.

However, I certainly don't think it is a 'stupid' idea, and as those in charge of the CEA cards have shown it is relatively cheap and easy to produce a card with someones name, photo etc on it.

What would need to happen first would be to get various businesses/venues to accept the card, it may even be worth investigating whether it would be possible to extend the acceptance of the CEA card to other forms of entertainment venues.

Richie-from-the-Boro

""claiming disability benefits"" is an accepted proof of being a disabled adult by most government & non-governmental organisations in the UK from transport and energy companies to the issue of a blue badge, anyone who is not ""claiming disability benefits" is not recognised as disabled and should resort to the use of the law in the shape of the DDA. Now that we have the DDA there is no need for a disabled-card in any case, people have mused about the reintroduction of a Green Card for years, it was never used or recognised by society or even by the disabled themselves when it existed.

Unless GOV is prepared to enter the arena and issue an UK-ID disabled card [IDS might like the idea of a card with a black triangle on a yellow triangle] no organisation would seriously consider anything less.

DomRavioli

dori2o wrote: »

You don't have to carry the card everywhere with you, only to places where you would use it to confirm receipt of benefit/disability.

I don't know what style of wallet/purse you have but in mine you cannot see the card details when they are in the card holder, you can even hide them in the zip compartment of my wallet.

Getting a laminated piece of A4 paper into my wallet would be a bit of a struggle.

Personally whilst the discounts/advantages that are provided by these companies/venues etc are more than welcome, something does not sit right with me that you can only get them if you are claiming disability benefits.

As I said above, many people are disabled and would qualify for such benefits yet choose not to claim. This then deprives them of receiving these advantages/discounts because they have chosen not to claim DLA/PIP etc.

However, I certainly don't think it is a 'stupid' idea, and as those in charge of the CEA cards have shown it is relatively cheap and easy to produce a card with someones name, photo etc on it.

What would need to happen first would be to get various businesses/venues to accept the card, it may even be worth investigating whether it would be possible to extend the acceptance of the CEA card to other forms of entertainment venues.

Well you are entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine. I don't have the cognitive abilities to remember to put yet another card into my wallet when I needed proof, and a single sheet of A4 isn't a problem for anyone I've ever met.

If someone chooses not to claim a disability benefit, then why should they get the discounts associated with it?

Just remember that when the disability registers did exist in local authorities, there were a lot of problems with those; those issues are still relevant, and will still occur - you would have to be associated with so many relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies (from everything from proof of disability from the NHS/DWP - would you accept private clinician letters? - to safety checking staff - to costs, charitable status etc, as well as other regulatory bodies you may have to register with) so it really is literally wishful thinking. It took a lot of time, effort and money previously, and when there is already something which does the job, why fix it if it isn't broken?

I still see no reason to pursue this, it isn't feasible.

Indie_Kid

Many disabled people aren't entitled to disability benefits; so how do they prove that they have a disability and are entitled to discounts? Bus passes and railcards aren't always accepted as proof.

Starrystarrynight

I wouldn't have any objections to such a card, OP.
A few years ago, I looked into a similar type of card which could be purchased by those who have metal joint replacements etc, so it could be used where detectors might be set off, eg airports. Never got round to that, but like the proposed idea.

dori2o

DomRavioli wrote: »

Well you are entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine. I don't have the cognitive abilities to remember to put yet another card into my wallet when I needed proof, and a single sheet of A4 isn't a problem for anyone I've ever met.

If someone chooses not to claim a disability benefit, then why should they get the discounts associated with it?

Just remember that when the disability registers did exist in local authorities, there were a lot of problems with those; those issues are still relevant, and will still occur - you would have to be associated with so many relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies (from everything from proof of disability from the NHS/DWP - would you accept private clinician letters? - to safety checking staff - to costs, charitable status etc, as well as other regulatory bodies you may have to register with) so it really is literally wishful thinking. It took a lot of time, effort and money previously, and when there is already something which does the job, why fix it if it isn't broken?

I still see no reason to pursue this, it isn't feasible.

Of course it's feasible, especially if only those who claim benefits are entitled to use the card.

The CEA card is issued on the basis of the individual being in receipt of DLA, you send in the application form, a cheque for £5 and a photograph. In less than 28 days you have a card which allows free entry to the cinema for one carer.

If a scheme was organised to provide proof of disability based on receipt of disability benefits, then it could operate in much the same way as the CEA card.

As for your claim that people who don't claim benefits don't deserve to get the additional advantage to the discounts etc, I fail to see any reason why.

People don't get these discounts/advantages etc because they get disability benefits, they get them because they are disabled, receiving disability benefits is simply a way of confirming that the person is disabled.

In actual fact should anyone challenge those places that only provide these discounts on the basis of seeing proof of disability benefits, then under the EA2010 they would probably have a good chance of claiming discrimination.

Providing such a card for those without DLA/PIP etc isn't actually as hard as you might think.

People could use a blue badge as proof of disability, or a disabled persons bus pass, or as with the blue badges they could attend an assessment with an occ health adviser.

I personally don't have an issue carrying around a copy of my award notice. I keep a copy of mine in my blue badge wallet so I always have one with me when I go out.

I have also scanned the award notice and saved it to dropbox, which I can access from my smartphone and provide the proof that way.

Many people however would prefer the convenience of a credit card type ID card.

DomRavioli

Where are these "many people" then?

Own_My_Own

My son has Aspergers and carries a card from Autism Anglia that is recognised by the police.
He has only had to use it once when he witnessed an accident. But the officer then knew my son would have some difficulty explaining what he saw, and wasn't just being difficult.