Martin Lewis has explained how Brits can save up to £126 under the new Blue Badge rule change. According to the Money Saving Expert, over three million people with the parking permit can now benefit from cash off rail travel.
An eligibility rule change means that Brits with a Blue Badge, which allows holders to park for free in disabled spaces, on-street yellow lines, and resident bays, can benefit from the Disabled Persons Railcard scheme. The railcard, which costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years, gives a third off all rail travel. It can save people around £126 per year with access to partner discounts, including days out, hotels and restaurants.
As reported by the Daily Record, Martin Lewis said on a recent episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on STV: “Blue Badge holders can now qualify for a Disabled Person’s Railcard which is one-third off fares. If you have a Blue Badge or a Disabled Persons Bus Pass or you can’t drive for medical reasons, that now counts as a way of being eligible.”
He added that the rule change, which was introduced on Sunday, March 1, means “if you’ve had the test for a Blue Badge you don’t need to go through the test again.” It was expanded to cover a wider range of disabilities, making discounted rail travel accessible to many who previously did not qualify.
The expansion comes after a review by the Department for Transport and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, the Rail Delivery Group. They agreed that eligibility rules need to reflect the modern understanding of disability.
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Widening the eligibility for the Disabled Persons Railcard is an important step forward in helping more people access rail and travel with confidence.
“Working closely with the UK Government, the industry is committed to building a railway that reflects the needs of the communities we serve today and, in the future, ensuring our network is inclusive, welcoming and supportive for every passenger.”
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Availibility will extend to people who: