National Disabled Identification Card (DID) Lets you Leave the Paperwork at Home

The National Disabled Identification (DID) Card was introduced in response to disabled people posting comments in a number of social media sites that they were getting tired of constantly having to carry their paperwork proving they were entitled to some form of disability benefit in order to obtain a concessionary rate.

Launched this year, the scheme is run by disabled people, parents and carers to help eliminate the need to carry lots of paperwork and explain their disability each and every time.

The card will have a photograph of the cardholder and will only be issued to disabled people who are in receipt of some form of disability allowance.

The card can be used as proof that the DID cardholder is in receipt of an eligible benefit and therefore entitled to gain entry at concessionary rate. Many establishments, theatres, museums, attractions, leisure facilities  and the like offer concessionary prices for disabled people and in some cases offer free entry to another person assisting the disabled person.

You can apply for the DID card online or by post. It costs £10 a year and is accepted by many establishments in lieu of proof of DLA.

UPDATE

Here is the response from the organisers of the DID Card:

The card has not been approved by the government but prior to starting the company it had to be approved by the Securities Industry Authority (SIA) who regulate ID cards. Trading Standards and the Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) have also given their backing.

The DID was shortlisted in the Virgin Media start-up company of the year competition 2015 and only just missed out on a place in the finals.

I started the company as I was fed up of constantly having to produce my DLA documents for myself and my son. I am disabled with mobility issues and have lost the use of my right foot and my son has one of the many hidden disabilities, he has Global Developmental Delay.

It is privately funded, limited company formed last December and prior to launch at Easter we had approached a number of large organisations to see if they would accept the card e.g. the Merlin group, Virgin experience days and the National Trust have agreed to recognise the card. We are currently compiling a national list of where the card will be accepted and this should be appearing on our website soon. The list is ever growing from all sorts of companies, play centres, leisure facilities, zoos, farm parks, museums etc.

We are having discussions with a number of the major charities to endorse the DID Card and again these will be included on our website once these discussions have been completed.

The company is registered under the data protection act and the website is fully encrypted to comply with the stringent requirements. No details will be passed to any other 3rd party. Any details held on our server will be deleted if the card is not renewed and individuals can request copies of their details at any time. All cardholders can see their personal details through their own login details. All paper applications are shredded once the application has been processed.

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