Proof Of Disability Card - Thoughts Please

Bennifred

Indie_Kid wrote: »

If you mean blue badge, you can get one without DLA.

Agreed. And quite rightly too! :money:

mcculloch29

Personally speaking, I remember thinking it was high time that I applied for DLA and the consequent free bus pass when bus drivers kept issuing me a concessionary ticket on seeing me board the bus. This was despite the fact that I wondered if I would be 'disabled enough' for the higher rate mobility component.

I am well aware that there are very many hidden disabilities which would rule me out of 'automatic selection', so to speak.
Having been through the claims process for DLA, I can well understand those who would probably be entitled but choose not to claim. I got through without an appeal but the whole thing was very stressful.

Mrs_Ryan

I too would welcome a card like this. I claim ESA for which I have been awarded support group but my PIP claim is well god knows where. I have both physical and mental disabilities and the only thing I have is a disabled person's coach card. I'm not so bothered about discounts in most places etc as I have an NUS card but it would be useful for some places that don't/won't accept this or if I need proof of my disability for any reason. It does frustrate me slightly that everything seems to require DLA proof..

Morglin

There did used to be registers and cards, but they were stopped because so many people found them discriminatory and 'labelling'.

Receiving sickness benefit, alone, was never considered evidence of disability though - that always required AA, DLA or similar.

I don't have a strong view, but I don't actually find carrying a copy of my DLA award, in my handbag, to be that much of an issue.

Lin

Errata

I think councils abandoned the register because although people put themselves on it, nobody bothered to take them off it when they kicked the bucket, making it useless for healthcare planning purposes.

dori2o

The fact is there is already a card available which could be used to confirm this, the CEA card. To receive the CEA card you have to be in receipt of certain benefits (Dla, AA, PIP, Armed Forces Independant Payment, or Registered blind with the LA).

If these various companies who offer such discounts were aware of this card then surely it could be used as proof.

I tend to find it is mainly days out that I get the benefit of a discount, i.e. the zoo, theme park etc etc.

It may be worth dropping a line to the likes of Merlin Entertainments (owners of Blackpool tower, Dungeons, Lego Land, Alton Towers, madame tussaurds etc etc) to see if they would accept the card as proof.

We went out yesterday to a friends house, but we were called en-route to say they were not going to be able to have us visit due to being ill, so on a whim we went to Chester Zoo where my wife got in free as my carer.

it wasn't as planned trip and we were lucky that I keep a copy of my DLA award in my BB wallet, but how many people would go for a trip on a whim like that and wouldn't therefore have the necessary proof, where as a credit card style ID card is easily kept permenantly in a purse/wallet.

Indie_Kid

But not every disabled person is entitled to that card.

Bennifred

The point is that you shouldn't have to be in receipt of benefits to have some sort of "proof" of disability.

dori2o

Indie_Kid wrote: »

But not every disabled person is entitled to that card.

Yes I know that

Bennifred wrote: »

The point is that you shouldn't have to be in receipt of benefits to have some sort of "proof" of disability.

I agree, I said the very same in my first post in this thread, but as a way of mioving forwards and changing things, I'm thinking that the CEA Card is one way of introducing an ID style card to things outside of cinemas.

Once that happens then it would be easier to establish an ID card that is available to ALL disabled people, on benefits or not.

It's first of all about breaking habits and expanding the scope of what is and isn't allowable as proof of disability.

I remember being at a theme park a few years ago where a person in a wheelchait was refused the discounted entry fee as they didn't have proof of disability with them. The manager at the kiosk was arguing that the person in the wheelchair could be 'having them on'.

That is what we need to be careful of. The same as with blue badges, people abusing such a system and giving those with disabilities a bad name again.

Ideally the CEA Card would be expanded to include those who are not in receipt of benefits. How would this be done though, and you can be sure if they had to assess people the fee wouldbe a lot higher than £5.50 per year.

Torialou78

I agree that many that find that they do not like having to have a card to prove themselves may not find themselves in the middle area when your disability is not classified by the lovely government as bad enough for DLA but you get ESA as I do. I have disabilities but am not able to access any disabled access to anything. I can not stand for long periods of time but do not use a wheel chair. I struggle loads and find I am in the middle of concessions all over. I can't get into the local swimming baths as any concession as unemployed I need JSA book, disabled I need DLA - cant get in at theatre or cinema or anything yet I am on benefit and years on it. I do consider filling out DLA sometimes but the ESA is enough to stress me out really can not face it but would really like help when needing to book accessible rooms or seats etc I could without the third degree. You would be shocked how many places turn me down and it hurts because I am stuck in that void.