Where do I find out about the ‘NOWcard’?      

This is a concessionary bus travel pass scheme for people over 60 and people who are disabled. One Voice has application forms and our Information Officers are able to help complete the form.  NOWcard applications can also be   obtained and authorised by the Town Hall.

Lancaster

Town Hall
Dalton Square
Lancaster
LA1 1PJ

Telephone 01524 582958
Opening Times: Monday to Friday 08:45 - 17.15

To down load an application form go to www.nowcard.org/ complete and take to the Lancaster office above, you will need to provide proof of address and eligibility (proof of age for an Over 60s pass or proof of disability for a Disabled pass) and a recent colour passport photograph.  

Morecambe
Town Hall
Marine Road East
Morecambe
LA4 5AF

Telephone 01524 582958
Opening Times: Monday to Friday 08:45 - 17.15

Morecambe office staff will complete your application and take your photograph. There is no need to fill out an application form or provide a recent passport photograph. You will however still need to produce proof of address and eligibility (proof of age for an Over 60s pass or proof of disability for a Disabled pass).

Qualifying criteria and list of evidence of disability that will be accepted in support of your bus pass application are as follows:

Blind or partially sighted, you will need: 

·        A copy of the ‘BD8’ or 'CVI' form issued to you by the hospital or your registration card issued by your Social Care team are adequate. 

·        If you have lost your copy of the ‘BD8’ or 'CVI' form, you may be able to get a copy from your appropriate local Social Care team (formerly Social Services) or from the hospital, which issued it in the first place.  

·        Evidence of your registration as a Blind or Partially Sighted person would be equally acceptable.


Profoundly or severely deaf, you will need:
 

·        A brief letter confirming your condition from a specialist agency or charity providing services for deaf people would be adequate, or 

·        Confirmation in writing from Social Services that you are included on their Deaf Register, or  

·        A letter from an audiology specialist confirming that hearing loss has been recorded at 70 dBHL or worse, or 

·        Confirmation in writing from your General Practitioner that you have a severe or profound hearing difficulty.

Without speech, you will need: 

·        A brief letter confirming your condition from a specialist agency or charity providing relevant services, often the same organisations who provide services for deaf people would be adequate, or

·        Confirmation from a General Practitioner that you would be unable to make clear basic spoken requests - in any spoken language - such as asking for a particular fare or checking bus routes with the driver.

·        An inability to speak English or speech, which is excessively slow or distorted due to a heavy accent or a severe stammer, would not qualify.


Learning disability, you will need:

·        Confirmation in writing from Social Services that you are included on their database as a person who receives - or who has in the past received - services for those with a learning disability, for example you may be attending a Day Centre for persons with a Learning Disability, or

·        Confirmation in writing from the local Health Authority or your General Practitioner that you are included on their data base as a person who receives - or who has in the past received - services for those with a learning disability, or

 

·        If you have recently moved to Lancashire or Cumbria, confirmation in writing from your previous local Health Authority or General Practitioner or Social Services authority that you are included on their database as a person who has in the past received services for those with a learning disability, or

·        A letter from your General Practitioner, confirming that your learning disability can be defined as being sufficiently severe as to warrant access to services for people with a learning disability provided by the above agencies should you wish to apply to them.

 Without the use of both arms, you will need:

·        You could physically, through accident, injury, deformity or other reason, be without both arms. If this is the case no further supporting evidence will be required, or

·        You could have lost the long-term use of both arms. In this case confirmation in writing from your General Practitioner would be necessary.

 Disability, or suffered an injury, this is often termed as a long-term mobility problem. In such a case you will need:

·        Documentary evidence that you are currently in receipt of Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component at the Higher Rate would be sufficient evidence. Confirmation that you receive the War Pensioners mobility supplement would be equally acceptable, or

·        A letter from your General Practitioner confirming that your condition has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk would be accepted as confirmation of your condition, or

·        Your mobility condition may be sufficiently severe as to cancel the need for supporting documentary evidence.

 Refused grant of a licence, you will need:

·        A letter from the DVLA refusing to accept your application for a driving licence because you are not deemed by them to be physically fit to drive, or

·        Confirmation from your General Practitioner that you suffer from epilepsy, that you have had an attack during the past year and that one or more of your attack(s) have occurred other than when you were asleep, or 

·        Confirmation from your General Practitioner that you are liable to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting, other than insulin dependent diabetics where disabling hypoglycaemia is considered to be controllable, or

 

 

·        Confirmation from your General Practitioner, or the local Health Authority, or your local Social Services office, that you have a severe mental disorder and are under long-term medication sufficiently strong as to make you a source of danger to the public if you were to drive.

NOTE - Anyone who has been refused a driving licence through a persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol does not qualify for a bus pass.