More people can now get a Disabled Person's Railcard – official MSE News discussion

MSE_Kelvin

Morning all,

I've written a news story about the eligibility criteria for the Disabled Person's Railcard being expanded.

If you've got a blue badge or disabled person's bus pass, you may now qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard as the eligibility criteria for the scheme has been expanded from today (Sunday 1 March).

Read the full story here: Blue badge holders and others can now get a Disabled Person's Railcard

Have a butcher's and let us know what you think of the changes and if they'll make train travel more accessible.

Cheers,

MSE Kelvin 🍻

sunnyflower

My son has recently been fitted with hearing aids,.He's never had a problem using trains, but the savings will very useful for him & his wife will get a cheap fare too.

TimeLord1

Worth doing if you have to travel quite a lot.

DarthDaisy

30% is not really enough

unforeseen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81980819#Comment_81980819

Don't forget that a carer also gets the discount, plus it is also valid at peak times

KxMx

It also gets you 1/3 off tube fares in London, once set up with adding it to an Oyster card (discount not valid with contactless bank cards).

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/national-railcard-discount

Savvy_Sue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81980920#Comment_81980920

And by 'carer' understand any one person with you. You don't have to need any care en route.

Spoonie_Turtle

I have had a Disabled person's railcard for decades, even before I became a wheelchair user, and it's certainly paid for itself many times over.

For peak time travel (Anytime tickets), wheelchair users who stay in their chair for the journey, and people registered blind travelling with a companion, can get discounts without a railcard:

Wheelchair users (with or without companion) https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-offers/promotions/wheelchair-user-without-a-railcard/

People registered blind / VI with a companion https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-offers/promotions/visually-impaired-customer-without-a-railcard/

Of course the railcard is great for off-peak travel for those people anyway, and far more people are eligible for one than for the above concessions. It's just worth people being aware of those concessions, especially if they don't usually take the train and a one-off journey would be covered by a concession without railcard.

Muttleythefrog

Must admit I get this card every year and I don't think it has ever been worth it….either I have limited short journeys or have had very long journeys…. the long journeys (for which the card would pay for itself easily) almost always resulted in refund due to suicides or some other major delay like bridge strikes.

Savvy_Sue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985212#Comment_81985212

I wondered if it would be worth it the first time I applied for it. Initially I was just using it for short journeys, but then when I needed to visit my Dad in hospital it certainly paid for itself, and I now get a 3 year one. It only needs one trip to London to be worth it.