That doesn't make you eligible for the railcard as you have to both be on anti-epileptic medication AND have seizures 'regularly'. The latter part of the requirement obviously can't be backed up by support but you do sign to say as much when you apply for the card.
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Disabled Persons Railcard
- Thread starter gpmartin
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Well I'm (OP) putting it to the test right now, on behalf of someone with a progressive illness but not in receipt of benefits - in other words, someone who isn't eligible according to the criteria set out in the website, but may well be if the Radio 4 items mentioned in my first post (and in @Hadders' reply) are correct. I will let you know how I get on.
I do find it very strange though - the BBC items were very clear, but I cannot find anything on the charities' websites providing a source. If it was an FOI request, or a letter from RDG or the DfT, I would have thought they would have published it. The website is quite unequivocal, so either it's right and the charities are mistaken, or it's wrong and the RDG has knowingly allowed it to mislead people eligible for the Railcard for at least three years.
Llanigraham
On Moderation
Is it?
I still have mine and was asked to produce it last time I requested batteries whilst at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, which is my local (ha ha!!) hearing centre.
I've always got a brown book with new hearing aids, though for the last 20 years I've just requested batteries by email, or collected some when in a hospital. Specsavers only supply aids to over-60s (65?) near me, and would panic at the sight of my audiogram anyway.
I look forward to an update from @gpmartin .
I look forward to an update from @gpmartin .
Rather than a brown book when I was supplied with NHS hearing aids last year I was given a credit card sized plastic card with my details and how to obtain batteries which presumably would allow the purchase of a Disabled Railcard.
The dilemma is whether when my current Senior Railcard expires should I obtain a Disabled Railcard given that my hearing loss is not severe.
The dilemma is whether when my current Senior Railcard expires should I obtain a Disabled Railcard given that my hearing loss is not severe.
spyinthesky
Member
Your entitlement for Senior Railcard is no less severe than your hearing loss entitlement for a Disabled Railcard and with certainty will not improve.
If the entitlement is available and needed then use it.
Llanigraham
On Moderation
I work on the principle that the Disabled Card allows a bit more leaway in booking tickets at certain times of the day, plus allows my "assistant" discount as well.
And as I've got older my hearing has worsened anyway.
Given how often I end up spending more because of disability, I take the perks offered where I can, in the hope that it balances out. I'll start a thread elsewhere about getting assistance during disruption.
So, to provide an update as promised: the application was successful and the individual now has a Disabled Person's Railcard. For the submission, we uploaded a scan of the specialist's letter giving the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, along with a short note of explanation along the lines suggested in the MS Society forum linked to above. There was an odd reply a few days later asking to see evidence of her epilepsy medicine (?!), to which we politely replied with the note reattached. Silence for several weeks - and then the download code for the Railcard sent without any further queries.
Excellent news!
I probably spend more because of my disabilities but then so does the NHS with the services I need and prescription drugs I'm on, some of which are for life. However, my long-term health conditions wouldn't qualify me for a disabled railcard, and nor would I qualify for PIP. I did qualify for access to work money when starting a new job.
People can be disabled under one criteria and/or laws and at the same time not so under others. That's how I see it.
I was on a TPE service this morning and presented my disabled pass with my standard ticket, ticket inspector scanned it no problem, but he said something along the lines of "you know you can sit in first class with that railcard? They don't tell you but you can". This was the first I'd heard of it and I can't see anything online to confirm it - is he right?
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
That's news to me; I would have thought that would only apply if you had a discounted first class ticket with it, not a standard one...?
Llanigraham
On Moderation
Not something I've ever been told. Would be nice but I think I would like to see it in writing before I risked it.
The inspector was incorrect.
Don’t some of the IETs only have wheelchair space in 1st class so a wheelchair user effectively gets a free 1st class upgrade? Not sure if this is the case with TPEs Novas but perhaps the inspector was getting confused between wheelchair space and Disabled Railcards.
Vespa
Established Member
What would you get in a TPE first class ?
LOL The Irony
On Moderation
I think this comes from that yes. I'd have a guess wheelchair in/by first on TPE comes from the ballroom on the 185s.
Even that was a pretence by TPE. It consisted of a bit of a no-man's land beyond First Class. Too often, disabled passengers who did not use wheelchairs ended up on the uncomfortable long bench seats there, and the catering trolley regularly did not come through to that area.
I thought that earlier wheelchair spaces were often in 1st class as well.
Wallsendmag
Established Member
Five car LNER Azumas only have a wheelchair space in first.
Ah yes, that’s it! Is it a similar situation on the TPE Novas?
That would make sense - if he's recalled part of his training but got a bit muddled up. I have a 'hidden disability' and no special access requirements so don't need any special accommodation. It was a Nova.
Yes, in all of the Nova fleets. Passengers using a wheelchair are therefore given upgraded to first class when travelling on these trains, including being provided with any catering that is available. However, it is purely dependent on which train turns up - the passenger would not be entitled to insist on sitting in first class, or to receive catering, if a class 185 substitutes (not that there is a wheelchair space in first class on the 185s anyway!).
But how does that work for a wheelchair user travelling with family or friends? Do they also get upgraded? It would be entirely unacceptable for a wheelchair user to have to sit separately to those travelling with them.
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