You may be eligible to receive discounts or concessions if you have a disability. Whether that is a learning disability or a physical disability. You may also be eligible for grants to help you pay for extra costs and care.
The disability charity, Scope, estimates that everyday life costs an average of £580 for an adult with disabilities. Which is far more than it does for adults without a disability.
Families with children with disabilities spend on average £580 more per month than those without. For 25% of families, this number is above £1,000 per month.
In addition to the benefits provided by the Government, and concessions, grants may be available. Grants will help ease the financial burden on people with disabilities and their families.
The Max Card is available to foster families or families with children with special needs and disabilities. You can get discounts at many attractions across the UK with your Max Card.
The card is the child’s property, and we only be valid when they are present.
The attractions you choose will determine how much you will save. Every attraction has different discounts. Some offer free or reduced entry, while others can save you up to 5%.
You can apply for a Max Card Here
You can bring someone with you to the cinema for free by using your CEA Card. 90% of UK cinemas use the scheme!
You will have to pay for your cinema ticket, but your friend, family member, or carer will get a complimentary ticket. Effectively saving you 50%!
To receive this card you have to be on the following benefits and you must be at least eight years old:
You are eligible if you have:
The card is available for £6 and has a one-year validity. You can renew it at any time thereafter. You will need to submit a photo of yourself as well as proof of eligibility. (The letter that awarded you your benefits is ideal). Apply here.
The Diversability card is the official discount card for people with disabilities. It offers exclusive and market-leading savings with some of the UK’s most popular brands, entertainment, and service providers.
Shani Dhanda is a disability rights activist who founded the card. Shani has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bone Disease, which affects only 1 in 15,000 people in Britain. Shani is passionate about raising awareness about disability and diversity in the face of the mainstream media’s obsession with images of perfectionism. She also believes that there is a lack of social and cultural relevance for ethnic minorities with disabilities.
The Diversability card is being created to address the exclusion and alienation disabled customers experience when they use services or visit places. Places such as shops and eateries as a daily necessity.
The Diversability Card is not just designed to assist people with disabilities. It also aims to educate service providers and businesses on the disabled person’s experience. They hope that through training and highlighting improvements, and making changes can make a significant impact on the millions of disabled people. Shani now calls on businesses and consumers with disabilities to support the new scheme.
Shani stated that any business, whether local or national, can become a Diversability Cards brand partner for no cost. This will allow them to invest in over 12 million people with disabilities (which is almost 1 in 5 of the UK population). To show their commitment to this under-served consumer group.
With the help of favourite retailers, the Diversability Card is designed to ease financial pressure, and reduce extra costs for the disabled every month.
These benefits are available to those who qualify:
You are eligible if you have:
As it is still in production, sign up here to join the waiting list.
Many museums and tourist attractions offer concessions to people with disabilities without the need for a discount card. If you ask for ‘one disabled person or carer’, you may be granted free access. (You may not be able to access all attractions due to lack of wheelchair access). Before you go, make sure you check the prices and concessions.
You will be asked to provide proof of your learning disability.
You can learn more about the concessions by clicking here.
Discount cards can be obtained for public transport, such as a railcard or bus pass.
A Blue Badge, which allows you and the person you are driving to park in accessible parking spaces. This is a lifesaver when you need to park closer to the destination or need more space to enter and exit a car. People with learning disabilities or dementia can apply as of 2019.
For more information on eligibility, parking options, and how to apply, please visit Parking for People with Disabilities- The Blue Badge Scheme’.
Many charities offer grants to people with learning disabilities. These grants may provide a lump sum to help with housing, recreation, holidays, equipment, or education.
Each grant is subject to its own eligibility criteria. You can find out which grants may be available based on your financial needs by visiting disabilitygrants.org.
The Max Card is available for foster families as well as families with disabled children. You can get discounts at participating attractions throughout the UK. The discount amount depends on the attraction. However, you can search nearby attractions and check the MAX Card website to find out the discounts they offer in advance.
The Diversability Cards is a new program for people with sensory impairments and disabilities. The scheme aims to lower their living costs by allowing them to live as normal lives as they would without their condition. The Diversability Card is still in production and is not available for application. However, you can sign up on the waiting list to be notified when it launches.
A range of discounts is available to people with disabilities, sensory impairments, and certain medical conditions. These include bus passes, railcards, and concessions at toll booths. A Blue Badge may be available to you if you have certain conditions, such as autism or dementia.
