Concession cards: A way to save money

Concessions on services in transport, and entertainment & leisure, are one way for visually impaired people to save money. They offer discounted access to facilities including public transport, live music venues, and cinemas.
In this blog, we outline five concessions available to visually impaired people, all evidenced by concession cards.

The current cost of living crisis is having an impact on many aspects of daily life. Being able to access discounts and concessions has never been more essential.

In 2022, RNIB published a Cost Of Living report. It highlights the ways that the cost of living crisis more greatly affects blind and partially sighted people compared with the general population.

The report highlighted many issues including: increased costs in public transport, increased energy bills due to the need for lighting for everyday tasks, and the fact that only one in four working-age blind and partially sighted people are in employment.

Visually impaired people can access a range of concessions in order to reduce costs. In this blog, we highlight five of these concessions, focusing on transport, and entertainment & leisure. We cover: the blue badge, concessionary travel pass, Disabled Persons Railcard, CEA Card, and Nimbus Disability Access Card.

You can access these concessions by completing an application process. Evidence that you are eligible to this concession comes in the form of a card or pass.

People with a range of disabilities and health conditions can access all of these concessions. In this blog, we highlight specifically how a visually impaired person may benefit from each concession.
We hope that the concessions highlighted in this blog go some way to help people with sight loss reduce living costs.

Transport

Blue Badge

The Blue Badge enables disabled people to park in disabled parking spaces and other spaces eligible to blue badge holders.

For visually impaired people, this means that a driver can use a blue badge when supporting a visually impaired passenger, or when dropping them off or picking them up.

Please note that, to automatically qualify for a blue Badge, you must be registered Severely Sight Impaired. If you are registered Sight Impaired, you may still qualify, for example if you receive 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.

In certain instances, such as when parking at an “on-street” parking meter or pay-and-display, displaying a blue badge means that you do not have to pay. It can also often remove time limits on parking. If parking with a blue badge, ensure you check the relevant information. The rules can vary from car park to car park.

In England, the cost of a blue badge is £10 and it usually lasts three years.

Travel pass for disabled people

A travel pass for disabled people allows you to travel for free on public transport within your local area. While the pass is offered as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, you can only apply for a pass through your local authority or transport provider, depending on where you live.

The rules on how to use the pass vary depending on your local authority or transport provider. Do your research before applying so you know exactly how you can use your pass.
In Greater Manchester, there are two types of pass. The one you can apply for depends on your sight registration.

If you are registered sight impaired, you can apply for a Concessionary Travel Pass. This gives you free access to buses, trams, and local trains between 9:30am and midnight on weekdays, and free travel all day on weekends and public holidays.

However, if you are registered Severely Sight Impaired, you can apply for a Travel Plus Pass. This entitles you to free travel within Greater Manchester 24/7.

Both passes allow you to travel for free on all local buses throughout England between 9:30 am and 11:00 pm.

It is free to apply for a pass. The pass lasts between one and five years depending on your disability.

Disabled Persons Railcard

The Disabled Persons Railcard gives you 1/3 off train tickets when you travel within the UK. Not only do you get 1/3 of for yourself, if you travel with a companion, they get 1/3 off too!

The Disabled Persons Railcard costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years.
You can apply for the card online or by phone.

You have the choice as to whether you have an actual card or a digital paperless card you access via the Railcard app on your phone. The Railcard app is available on both iOS and Android.

Entertainment & Leisure

CEA Card

The CEA Card enables disabled people to receive a free complimentary ticket for somebody to go with them when they visit the cinema. If you have sight loss, this may be essential, for example to sight guide you within the cinema.

Many cinemas accept the CEA Card, including the major cinema chains, as well as some independent cinemas.

The CEA Card operates differently depending on the cinema you are booking tickets with. Check their information so you know what their procedures are. Some cinemas will allow you to use the CEA Card to make online bookings (when you enter your CEA Card number during the booking process). Others require you to show your CEA Card in person.

The CEA Card costs £6 and lasts one year.

Nimbus Disability Access Card

The Nimbus Disability Access Card is a way to communicate your access needs to select businesses including live events venues, visitor attractions, and high street retailers.
The card features symbols that represent your access needs. These range from the +1 symbol (which indicates you need support from an essential companion) and a symbol to indicate that you cannot access visual information and need it in alternative formats.

Unlike the other cards listed in this blog, the Nimbus Disability Access Card does not guarantee you access to concessions. Instead, it is a way to communicate your access needs and acts as proof of disability. This can then entitle you to concessions, depending on the organisation’s terms and conditions regarding how you can use the Access Card.

The Nimbus Disability Access Card costs £15 and lasts three years.