Money Moral Dilemma: Should I get a Disabled Person's Railcard when my condition doesn't affect me?

Savvy_Sue

katejo said:

shoneyco said:

I had a similar dilemma when I first realised that I qualified for a disabled persons rail card due to my hearing impairment. Well hearing isn’t immediately related to mobility is it? My daughter helped at that time by asking a simple question: Are the disabled persons railcards rationed at all? ie might my getting one mean another person (maybe with a more ‘relevant’ disability) missed out? The answer is definitely not. So I applied, got one and use it regularly. 

I developed a hearing impairment slightly over a year ago. I recently heard that this might make me eligible for a disability railcard but I don't feel that my impairment is sufficient. It doesn't matter now because I now have a senior railcard and an Oyster 60+. I do also take medication for epilepsy but have been seizure free for many years so have never considered applying for that. I assumed I would need to be having active seizures.

Another one with a Disabled Person's Railcard because of hearing loss. Worth pointing out that if you ARE entitled to it, it's slightly cheaper than the Senior Railcard, AND allows another person to travel with you for the same price, which the Senior does not. 

I have been telling my senior friends about this advantage for some time! 

Returning to the actual topic, I put off applying for one as I didn't really 'need' it and might not use it very often. I was so glad I did, as I then saved the cost of it with multiple visits to the my dad when he was in hospital. 

As a reassurance, I have never been challenged by staff when presenting one (because obviously I don't 'look' disabled). Once or twice I've been asked if I need any assistance, which generally I don't. 

twopenny

You can - up to you.

I'm guessing you wish to feel whole and healthy and the thought of this rail card would make you feel differently.

At 60 I was reluctant to declare and get discounts.....pure pride and not wanting to be dependent. Feel old.

I soon learned that every penny counts and it didn't bother anyone but me

Recently I've been undergoing tests for continued pain during the pandemic and beyond to find that I have arthritis in back and hip. 

 I've been advised also to sign up to Priority Services for quicker connection to a human being on essential utilities...........I was very reluctant because I cope as I've always coped with life. I'm not always crippled. Some days are fine.

But the difference is great being able to get through and sort a problem quickly.

If you don't need the savings, if it really makes you feel bad then don't do it.

But it is only about how it makes you feel. No one else will bat an eyelid

Kyle1974

Chris_Jay said:

Keithyno1 has made the most sensible points on this question, for me.
I don't have epilepsy, but my sister does. She was diagnosed over thirty years ago, and couldn't drive for two years. It's dropped to one year since then. She hasn't had an episode in waking hours, they happened in her sleep. Her meds have kept her stable, but they have their own side effects, which need other meds to counter them, and it's for life.

Keithyno1 is a wonderful friend, and another unsung hero, in my opinion. He makes the valid point that he could park in a standard bay, but that carries the possibility of another driver not being as careful as they should be, when these friends are negotiating their way to where they're going, so it's absolutely right that they use the disabled bays.

The OP is concerned about using a rail card, because she's been free of episodes for some time, but that doesn't mean they won't start again. Anything official that would inform the paramedics, or railway staff, or anyone in any situation, of her epilepsy, can only be a useful tool in treating someone having an episode, so they can be treated swiftly and effectively.

I'm a non-driver with a blue badge. I have it because I have severe arthritis, which is lifelong, incurable and miserable.
I also have stage four metastatic bone cancer, also lifelong, incurable and miserable. Neither condition shows to the outsider, who sees me struggling to get out of cars driven by family and friends, and I do get nasty comments and looks, and it's unnecessary. My conditions don't have identifying paperwork that I could keep in my bag in case of a crisis in public, but I can get a card to say that I have continence issues, to show in shops or businesses in that crisis...!

I feel that the OP needs to work with her moral compass, and decide what is best for her, and not worry about what other people think!
On that basis, I will take my nose out of other people's business, and just wish her well.

It’s very rare I comment on here but I’m actually quite angry at some of the comments made in regards to epilepsy and the misconceptions and ignorance around it. I got it as a side effect of a stroke in 2012 and I would do anything NOT to have it. I handed my license back as I was told I wasn’t allowed to drive and thus have my rail pass. For people wondering, it’s not all falling about on the floor twitching. I have absence seizures frequently as well as the ‘regular’ ones in my sleep plus losing the ability to speak for minutes a time. 

Mind you, as someone said to me over the summer ‘you don’t look ill’ 

HillStreetBlues

I did wonder if this " Dilemma" would have been corrected given the evidence supplied, or at least replied to.

It makes me wonder  what other parts of the site remain uncorrected  once errors are pointed out? It would certainly make people less likely to bother pointing out any errors if people are scared to admit to them.
 

Muttleythefrog

HillStreetBlues said:

I did wonder if this " Dilemma" would have been corrected given the evidence supplied, or at least replied to.

It makes me wonder  what other parts of the site remain uncorrected  once errors are pointed out? It would certainly make people less likely to bother pointing out any errors if people are scared to admit to them.
 

It is unfortunate as one great thing about this board and the benefits board is that members are self correcting.... we all are capable of missing a bit of info or giving technically incorrect advice but usually that's quickly resolved under challenge and correction..... it would be a shame if admin sought to silence or ignore the very thing that makes this place work. The thread either needs Admin to put new information about the subject of the thread that does indicate they qualify for a Disabled Railcard or otherwise correct or delete the Dilemma which as it stands is absolutely not as presented. The fact that the Op indicated they do their research then points to official source which clearly implies they are incorrect in continuing to assert the subject does qualify for a Disabled Railcard is highly unfortunate but easily resolved in a manner this place has always worked well regarding.

One of the reasons I use this place is to confirm my own thinking on technicalities to see if they stand up or fall under under weight of the excellent advice and understanding other members provide.

Until the thread is resolved all we can do is point to the official information for qualification of a Disabled Railcard and specifically that pertaining to Epilepsy and say that without further information of the circumstances of the subject of the thread to show differently then they are not entitled to a Disabled Railcard (something that would be evident in reading the official relevant qualification specifications or indeed when in going through the actual online application which raises same).... and that the most likely advice of 'go for it' is actually unwitting encouragement of fraud (which I assume MSE admin would not approve of!)

Given my personal experience in the thread dare I say it there is concern the subject may read the thread and so members should bear that in mind - this is why I say it is imperative we get things correct... as the last thing we should do is to encourage someone who obviously has some issues of propriety (hence the dilemma) to potentially go and commit fraud which could later cause significant distress or anxiety. It is all avoidable.

vreemt

from what I've read and my interpretation of the rules, the person described sounds eligible for the disabled railcard.

they can have seizures without having a fit - and I assume "seizures" would be the "attacks" described in the criteria, which means they'd qualify

further, the eligibility criteria are not mutually exclusive.

* you _can_ have a driving license and qualify - eg mobility vehicle drivers

* if someone receives any of the listed benefits/allowances, they qualify

links used - https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/are-you-eligible/ and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/symptoms/

marcia_

vreemt said:

from what I've read and my interpretation of the rules, the person described sounds eligible for the disabled railcard.

they can have seizures without having a fit - and I assume "seizures" would be the "attacks" described in the criteria, which means they'd qualify

further, the eligibility criteria are not mutually exclusive.

* you _can_ have a driving license and qualify - eg mobility vehicle drivers

* if someone receives any of the listed benefits/allowances, they qualify

links used - https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/are-you-eligible/ and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/symptoms/

 No seizures and fits are the same thing. 

A person has epilepsy and causes seizures. 

 The person in this post doesn't have seizures and is allowed to drive. But can qualify if they get a qualifying benefit. 

Muttleythefrog

vreemt said:

from what I've read and my interpretation of the rules, the person described sounds eligible for the disabled railcard.

they can have seizures without having a fit - and I assume "seizures" would be the "attacks" described in the criteria, which means they'd qualify

further, the eligibility criteria are not mutually exclusive.

* you _can_ have a driving license and qualify - eg mobility vehicle drivers

* if someone receives any of the listed benefits/allowances, they qualify

links used - https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/are-you-eligible/ and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/symptoms/

The thread is flawed and sadly the admin will not correct their errors or give further information to explain why they (subject of the thread who I still am not convinced is real) would qualify for the Disabled Railcard such as due to qualifying benefit. That is extremely disappointing given one great value of MSE is members frequently will correct poor or incorrect advice.. it is substantially self correcting... but people need to admit when they've got things wrong otherwise you end up with farce... like here.

The criteria clearly would not be met from the information given by Admin and the person in question would have to lie during the railcard application process. They have not suffered a seizure in over a decade... in no way could that be considered "repeated attacks" and they are not prohibited from driving. The criteria is "you either have repeated attacks even when receiving drug treatment; or are currently prohibited from driving".

It is unlikely the person in question does get a qualifying benefit as it likely would have been mentioned at some point and indeed would provide a simpler route to qualification than epilepsy even if they did suffer repeated seizures. The opening post states "I qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard to get 1/3 off rail fares as I have epilepsy" and this remains untrue.

Therefore the moral dilemma posed is completely flawed.... as it relies on the basis that the person is technically eligible for the disabled person's railcard. 

HillStreetBlues

These MMDs are just about getting people using the forum, if the truth becomes collateral damage so be it.

wild666

I have epilepsy and still get fits when asleep but I don't have an exemption certificate for the medication, I believe many people with epilepsy don't bother with the certificate, also just didn't renew my licence in 2018 when it was due for renewal. I have never being asked by the chemist to show any exemption certificate as they just assume I have epilepsy.