Am I eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard?
You can check the information below to see if you are able to apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard, and what documents you will need to provide.
From 30 September 2026 the eligibility criteria has expanded to include disabilities and conditions that require professional health evidence and more detailed assessment, including some long-term or degenerative medical conditions, and neurodiversity where it has a substantial impact on a person’s ability to travel by train.
You may be eligible to apply through the new route if your condition significantly affects your ability to use rail services and you can provide either:
A report or letter from a health professional explaining how your condition affects your ability to use rail services; or
A completed impact declaration form signed by a suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professional
Accepted professions include doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, registered social worker or other suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professions.
Applications submitted through this route will be independently assessed based on how your condition affects your ability to travel by rail.
Proof of eligibility
If you: | You will need to provide: |
|---|---|
Get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) at any rate | A copy of your award letter showing you are currently in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) |
Get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment (CDP) at either: the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component | A copy of your award letter showing you are currently in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment (CDP) |
Have a visual impairment | Social Services official stamp in the space allocated on the Disabled Persons Railcard application form if applying online or on a paper application form OR A copy of your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI), BP1 Certificate (Scotland) or BD8 Certificate for being registered blind or partially-sighted |
Have a hearing impairment | Social Services official stamp in the space allocated on the Disabled Persons Railcard application form if applying online or on a paper application form OR A copy of the front page of your NHS battery book, a copy of your dispensing prescription or other evidence that you are deaf or use a hearing aid from an official health provider or local authority |
Have epilepsy | A copy of a document from a health professional showing you have epilepsy AND a copy of your prescription for drugs |
Get Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) | A copy of your award letter |
Get a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement | A copy of your award letter |
Get a War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability | A copy of your award letter |
Lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme | A copy of your leasing agreement showing you are currently leasing a vehicle |
Have a Disabled Persons Bus Pass in England, Scotland or Wales | A copy of your Disabled Persons Bus Pass |
Have a London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass | A copy of your London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass |
Have a Blue Badge | A copy of the back and front of your Blue Badge |
Are currently unable to drive on medical grounds | A copy of a letter from DVLA or a health professional stating you are unable to drive on medical grounds – it must be dated within the last 2 years |
Get Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) benefits | A copy of your award letter showing you are currently in receipt of Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) benefit |
Get Industrial Injuries Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher | A copy of your award letter showing you are currently in receipt of Industrial Injuries Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher |
Are without speech | A document from a health professional showing you are without speech |
Have an impairment or health condition that is long-term (lasted or likely to last at least 12 months) and causes significant barriers when using rail services | A report or letter from a health professional that helps explain your access needs. Confirmation of diagnosis alone for conditions with variable impact may not be enough to process your application. Remember, to be eligible, you must experience significant disability-related barriers to rail travel OR A completed impact declaration form signed by a suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professional |
Have a neurodivergence that is long-term (lasted or likely to last at least 12 months) and causes significant barriers when using rail services | A report or letter from a health professional that helps explain your access needs. Confirmation of diagnosis alone for conditions with variable impact may not be enough to process your application. Remember, to be eligible, you must experience significant disability-related barriers to rail travel OR A completed impact declaration form signed by a suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professional |
Buy your Disabled Persons Railcard
If you want to apply by post
You can download these application forms.
Download the Large Print Disabled Persons Railcard leaflet and application form
Download the Easy Read Disabled Persons Railcard leaflet and application form
If you need this information in a format other than those listed above, such as Braille, please contact us.