If you are disabled, you may be eligible for the Disabled Persons Railcard. Can it get me a discount on train tickets? Am I eligible? What are the conditions? This Your Benefit article will tell you everything you need to know.

Disabled Railcard Benefits

A Disabled Persons Railcard in the UK may earn you one third of the cost of your travels off. This is for travels that are done through the National Rail network in Great Britain. You may also get this discount for an adult travelling with you.

Disabled Persons Railcard cost

The Disabled Persons Railcard in the UK costs £20. What this means is you’ll make up for the price of the card in savings after just a few trips.

How can I use the Disabled Persons Railcard?

Use this card to earn a one third discount on all your train travels within Great Britain, with no time restrictions. You may use the Disabled Persons Railcard 2 devices, not only one. Sometimes, devices die. So, this is to ensure that you always have access to your Disabled Railcard. 

Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility

You need to be receiving a qualifying benefit in order to be eligible for the Disabled Persons Railcard, or have a qualifying impairment or disability. You qualify for the Railcard if you currently receive or have:

• Personal Independence Payments (PIP);
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) (for the mobility component, you can get either the higher or lower rate, if you receive the care component, it can be at the higher or middle rate);
• Attendance Allowance;
• Severe Disablement Allowance;
• War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement;
• War or Service Disablement Pension (your disability needs to be at 80% or more);
• A vehicle that you buy or lease via the Motability scheme;
• A visual impairment;
• A hearing impairment;
• Epilepsy.

You may earn one of the benefits in the table. However, you will need to provide proof that you do. If you fail to do so, you may be ineligible for the card. 

Can I get a railcard if I am not disabled?

You may be eligible for a Railcard even if you do not have a disability. Indeed, there are a variety of railcards, they include the:

• 16-25 Railcard;
• Senior Railcard;
• Two Together Railcard;
• Disabled Persons Railcard;
• 26-30 Railcard;
• Family & Friends Railcard;
• Network Railcard;
• 16-7 Saver;
• Veterans Railcard.

Disabled Persons Railcard eligible tickets

There are a variety of tickets and fares on which you can earn a discount with your Railcard. They are the following:

• First Class and Standard Class Anytime tickets;
  • Anytime Day tickets;
    • Return or Single tickets need to be redeemed between the date indicated on the ticket and 4:29 am on the day after;
  • Anytime Single;
    • These tickets need to be redeemed for travel between 2 days of the day indicated on the ticket and 4:29 am on the following day;
  • Anytime Return;
    • You must make your travel between 5 days within the last day of validity and 4:29 am on the last day of validity. Additionally, your return trip needs to be within a month of the last day of validity and 4:29 am on the last day of validity;
• Travelcard;
  • You can save money when purchasing a travel card. This needs to be between Zones 1 to 9. Additionally, the travel must be from inside London to outside London;
    • The minimum amount that the fare has to be is £19.60;
• First Class and Standard Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak;
  • The discount can be earned on Return, Singles and Day tickets;
  • You may be tied to travel during a specific time of day, specific day or route;
• Standard and First Class Advance tickets;
  • These must be redeemed prior to the date of your travel;
• Express Train going to the airport;
  • Qualifying services include Heathrow Express, Stansted Express and Gatwick Express;
• Hop on, Hop Off tickets;
  • the discount can be applied for PLUSBUS as well as First Class and Standard All-Line Rail Rover tickets. This is also the case for some regional tickets;
• Caledonian Sleeper;
  • The discount can be applied for Classic Solo and Club Solo seated products;
• Combined Rail/Sea Journeys;
  • You may be able to save on some routes through Wightlink and Red Funnel Ferries. This is for routes in destination to stations located on the Isle of Wight, Stena Line ferries going to the Republic of Ireland and Hovertravel services that go to and come from Ryde Hoverport.

Are there tickets for which my Disabled Persons Railcard won’t get me a discount?

Not all tickets are able to earn you a discount. It is important that you verify if you are able to use your Disabled Persons Railcard. You may not use it on the following:

• The majority of tickets for Docklands Light Railway and London Underground;
• Charter train tickets, special excursion tickets and a number of bus and coach links. This includes RailAir services;
• Some promotional offers specific to train company;
• Eurostar tickets;
• Season tickets (this includes Travelcard Season tickets, these usually have their own ways to save on their prices, however).

Can I save for Oyster pay as you go in London?

You may register your Disabled Persons Railcard to an Oyster card at either a London Underground Station or National Rail ticket office. They must be locations that are able to give out Oyster cards.

If you do this, you will be able to receive the one third discount when travelling via the Docklands Light Railway services, London Underground or the National Rail. 

Are there minimum fare or time restrictions? 

There is a minimum fare that applies to Anytime Day Travelcards. Indeed, your ticket must cost a minimum of £19.60. The restrictions that you may experience depend on the type of ticket that you buy. For example, some may have specific periods or times at which you must do your return travel.

Can I earn discounts on things other than train tickets?

You may be eligible to earn other Disabled Persons Railcard benefits. In terms of personal health, for example, your Disabled Persons Railcard allows you to earn benefits like free Skincare & Haircare Gifts on the grüum website.

Hoseasons offers 5% off Parks, Lodges and Boating breaks for those who have a Disabled Persons Railcard. You can save up to £50 on Haven Holiday’s offers. Finally, you could also earn a 20% off discount on Virgin Experience Days services using your Railcard.