Old Paper National Insurance Card

Newcad

Just renewed my disability bus pass (it's on it's way in the post at least).

It's got much easier to argue that it's equivalent to a photo driving licence for ID purposes now that it's accepted as ID for voting.

My last disability pass renewal, I'll be SPA before the new one expires.

TimeLord1

Newcad said:

Just renewed my disability bus pass (it's on it's way in the post at least).

It's got much easier to argue that it's equivalent to a photo driving licence for ID purposes now that it's accepted as ID for voting.

My last disability pass renewal, I'll be SPA before the new one expires.

So what's the difference in the card for disabled  pensioners pass ? Do you have to apply for the pensioner pass, or will they automatically contact you or continue with the existing pass?  

Newcad

So what's the difference in the card for disabled  pensioners pass ?

Biggest difference is a disability pass is orange and need renewing every 3-years, a pensioners pass is Blue and needs renewing every 10-years.

They are different colours because some council areas can have different rules on what times they can be used from*, ie the pensioners pass usually becomes valid at 9 in the morning, a disability pass may in some areas be used earlier in the morning to cater for for disabled people going to work on the bus.

*Did you know that bus drivers call pass holders "Twirlies"?
(That's because they frequently get asked in the morning 'Is it twirly to use my pass').

The new pass that is on it's way to me will be a 3-years disability pass. I can see on my account that it has already been posted out and has an expiry date of 31/05/2028.
I can/will still use it up to it's expiry date after I reach SPA.

A month before it's due to expire they will send me a renewal form, because I'm on the councils 'NoWcard' (bus-pass) register.
I write on the renewal form that I've now reached SPA and so want a Pensioner pass this time round.
That means no 'up to date' evidence of ongoing disability (epilepsy prevents me having a driving licence) will be needed for my renewal because I will be getting a pensioners pass which should them be valid till 2038.

TimeLord1

Twirlies is funny. 😄 I didn't know they had different colours I guess it makes sense. I wasn't aware the pensioner pass expired after ten years I bet that catches a lot out, especially if they have to renew it online. It's enough trying to get anything posted to you in the mail nowadays.

Newcad

I've just been double checking and I'm wrong - It's 5-years renewal periods for a pensioners pass.
That seems to be the norm with most councils that I've looked at, so is probably the minimum allowed by the ENCTS rules.

However it states on the website of the card issuer for the NW (NoWcard area councils):

If you have an older person's pass ...........

If you have used the pass in the last 12 months your pass will automatically be renewed and should be received two weeks before the expiry date.

So it looks like as long as you keep using a NoWcard pensioners pass they will renew it automatically every 5-years.

Things may be different in different parts of the country so check your own councils website.

TimeLord1

I always think living in Scotland or Wales is a bonus; well, London also has instant free bus concessions once you reach 60. And in the rest of England you have to reach pension age. If ever anything needed fairness, it's that. I would level up nationwide. Won't happen in my time. 

Newcad

I aways try to avoid mentioning London, with it's special rules because London is more equal than the rest of the UK.

TimeLord1

Newcad said:

I aways try to avoid mentioning London, with it's special rules because London is more equal than the rest of the UK.

Totally agree but the way London is heading is beyond the M25 it's already started.