Great 'What discounts can I get when I'm disabled' Hunt

A question about : Great 'What discounts can I get when I'm disabled' Hunt

Great 'What discounts can I get when I'm disabled' Hunt

Some companies (plus the Government) offer extra discounts and incentives for disabled people and their carers, such as free cinema tickets or bus passes. But these discounts can be difficult to find, so we'd like to tap MoneySavers' knowledge for where these savings and promotions can be had.

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Best answers:

• Well, there's the disabled person's railcard. You have to buy it, but you then get discounted travel for TWO PEOPLE for the duration of the railcard.
  Clear info and application form here: https://www.disabledpersons-railcard....-your-railcard
  - and there's lots of assistance available when you travel, all free of charge.
• BT offer a free directory enquiries service for people who can "prove" they are unable to handle or read a directory. For details, call 195 from a landline.
• Free road fund for one vehicle for anyone receiving one of the following:
• higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

Details here:
https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...cle/DG_4022121

• VAT-free purchases for disabled people.
  In reality, this is only useful in outlets that specialise in mobility and other products to help the disabled. PCs are excluded from the offer, or so a couple of PC dealerships have told me. However, it can also be used when purchasing a NEW CAR. The car has to be adapted on the dealer premises (at your expense) prior to it leaving the showroom.
  Details here:
  https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...ns/DG_10028495
• Free cinema tickets for carers accompanying disabled
  people: Google 'ceacard'
  As a new user, I cannot give the website, but it is a co.uk one preceded by ceacard!
• Hi
  The Cinema Exhibitor's Association offer a discount card to anyone who receives DLA or who is registered blind.
  ceacard.co.uk (www. first) - sorry, won't allow me to post the link!
  The above link will take you to their website where you can download an application form.
  Cards are valid for 1 year and cost Ј5.50 - you will have to send proof of disability, plus a passport size photograph
  The card entitles the holder to one free ticket to the person accompanying them to the cinema.
  Consider that most cinema's now charge over Ј5 per ticket, it's very easy to get your money back, and make great savings in a year.
  Most cinema's accept this card, and there don't seem to be any restrictions on when you can use them. (I've used mine, and have clients who use them, and have gone at weekends, as well as in the week).
  Hope this helps.
  Jules
• Everywhere i go i ask if there is a discount available or if 'carers' go free.
  Not everyone advertises these facts, so it pays to ask.
  Alton Towers have a wristband system where you and up to 4 friends get to queue jump, you just need to fill a form out when you show your prove. Only the once though, they've never asked about my proof since.
  We also get in half price as well as any carers with you.
• Care and repair offer a handyman scheme in my area for over 60's or disabled persons, it's free but a small donation is nice.
• If anyone is in receipt of Carer's Allowance, some council run gyms will give discount if you join, you will have to ask about it as they will not tell you.
• Caledonian MacBrayne allow those with the blue badge for their cars to take their cars on the ferries for half price
• There is a definitive guide on not just discounts for us disabled people but also incentives and benefits, produced by RADAR called: "If only I'd known that a year ago ... 2010" and it costs Ј14.99. It has probably saved me thousands of pounds over the years and yes, I wish I'd bought it years before I actually did!
  I'm not sure if I can paste about it but I'll try ...
  If Only I'd Known That a Year Ago
  Subtitled 'A guide for newly disabled people, their families and friends', this book provides an introduction to relevant services, rights and facilities. Covering areas such as accommodation, aids and equipment, education and employment, discrimination, health and social services, transport, sport and leisure, benefits and personal relationships, it gives all the information needed to 'start the ball rolling' and the signposts to gain more detailed knowledge as required.
  Also, invaluable for some of us, the National Key Scheme for accessible toilets. [Note for those that don't yet know: disabled toilets are toilets with broken bowls, missing toilet seats, no chain or door lock and half a dozen toilet rolls preventing it from being flushed, hence, the toilet is disabled!!! Accessible toilets are the ones that have been built or adapted so that disabled people can get access into them and to use them. Funnily enough they are not, as a lot of non-disabled people seem to think, provided for them to have prolonged sex sessions in!]. The keys also fit a lot of these new self-cleaning street toilets that put the fear of God in me every time I use one; worried that I'm taking too long and will get flushed away! The cost of a key about Ј3.50 and can pay for itself within a short time (pun intended).
  National Trust (England) has an admission policy for disabled people which admits the "necessary companion" or personal assistant of a disabled visitor free of charge, on request, while the normal membership, or admission fee, applies to the disabled visitor. To save having to 'request' a companion's free entry each time you go, you can apply for an 'Admit One' card to be issued. There's no charge for the card, it is in your name but it takes quite a long time to arrive so book early! Maybe take a deep breath before checking out their website; the text is archaic and a bit patronising!
  I guess the definitive guide to discounts and benefits for disabled people attending the arts, ballet, opera, theatre and concerts (in London) is the Artsline. It promotes access for disabled people to arts and entertainment venues, promoting the clear message that access equals inclusion. It has a massive online data base of venues and events but this covers mainly Greater London with, sadly, no coverage of the rest of the UK. In it you can find details of how to get on to the Access List of the Royal Opera House, Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, etc. and get mega-discounts. Warning: in some cases the venues claim that discounts only apply to recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or the Blue Badge and not to all disabled people, but I believe this is unlawful and probably should be challenged.
  As you probably know, under 16s and over 60s get to swim free in many boroughs, and in some enlightened boroughs, disabled people are also encouraged to swim, either with free swimming or major concessions. I'd be grateful if everyone and anyone would post where their borough is, and whether swimming is free for disabled people or concessionary (and, if you know, how much). Many thanks in advance!
  
• There are some brilliant concessions for London shows available, but if you book directly at the Box Office, remember to take some proof of disability with you. This is fair, otherwise there could be people using the facility, who aren't really entitled to it.
  For example, I produced a letter confirming my DH's entitlement to DLA, and a friend who's just completed chemo, who needs help getting on and off trains, produced her hospital appointment card for the Oncology Department. The best bargain I have found is for Dreamboats and Petticoats, who offer top price seats for Ј25 for the disabled person, and the carer is free!
  Theatre staff are really helpful, and will do their utmost to seat you where it is most convenient for you, for example, the end of a row, or near the toilets! Talking about toilets, always ask where the toilets for the disabled are situated - it saves massive queueing, which can be very tiring for the disabled.
  xx
• Wokingham Borough Council run a scheme called the CAN Card - I'm not sure if other local authorities do this but it might be worth asking them. This is for disabled/autistic children, you get a card with their photo and when shown it gives concessions and carer free access to quite a few attractions not just the Wokingham area.
  Also Legoland in Windsor have a Hand Stamp scheme which allows the disabled child and up to three people to use the exit of certain rides to queue jump - you need to take a letter or something that shows that the child has a disability to register and if you have a season ticket they can put this information on it so you only have to do this once. If you are willing to pay they have a Q-Bot Service which does a similar thing! For details see legoland.co.uk/planyourvisit/GUEST+WITH+DISABILITIES.htm
• I have recenty bought 2 merlin entertainment passes for my Autistic son's. I recived a free transferable carers pass for both. Defenatly worth the money.
• *Most* of these discounts appear to be available to disabled people who live in London/SE - What about those of us who live out in the sticks (South West) ?