What discounts can Carers get?
Deals
If you're a Carer, you may be entitled to some discounts. Here is a list that I'm aware of, but please add your own in the comments:
What discounts can I get as a Carer?
- Free Cinema - The Cinema Exhibitors Card (CEA) is a national card scheme by the UK Cinema Association. It gives carers a free ticket when attending with whomever they're helping. The initial cost is £6.
- Free Bus Passes - In Scotland, registered bus passengers with disabilities can take themselves and a carer for free. Other areas have their own policies. For example, Hampshire has a "Companion" bus pass. It's best to speak with your local authority. Here's a directory of local authority websites.
- Ask for a Carers Assessment - Speak with your local council and ask if they do "carers assessment". This may give you access to local discounts, such as half price gym membership, theatre tickets and more. Here is more information from Independent Age
- Free National Trust - Most public venues give a concessionary ticket although some staff may not know about the policy so if needed, speak to the manager and keep patient.
- Free Tickets to Theatre, Sports & Events - Across the web, the biggest piece of advice from fellow carers is just to ask. If it's an event in the future, call in advance and ask. Many places seem more than happy to help - but it's venue specific, not necessarily the event. It's always worth asking.
- Free Travel - Carers have suggested researching the "Take a Break" fund and local council "Direct Payments" scheme for financial assistance to help you travel. For example, train tickets and sailing trips. You'll need to speak to the local carer centres and your social worker.
Always ask for a Carers discount
It seems most freebies and discounts available to carers are decided locally. Always ask for it. Here's a template for you to use:
"Hello, I'm a carer looking after a person with disabilities. We would love to visit your venue. Do you support carers with free entry?"
Note the wording of the last question. This was advised to me by a professional carer with 40+ years experience: Do you support carers...?
You're effectively making it uncomfortable for them to say no, and offering the opportunity for them to feel good: "Yes, we do support carers!"
Watch Out For Carersmart Discount Card
A new discount card launched a while ago from Carersmart. Please note that this isn't really a discount card exclusive to carers in the sense you're probably thinking and really it seems (but unconfirmed) they just make affiliate commission from their own cashback platform and price comparison services.
It's a good idea - Some people want proof so I have photo copied my disabled badge and made it in to a credit card size and show people that. Hope it helps.x
what a fab idea!!, im a carer to my disabled partner and its amazing that we never think of discounts/ help for us, just the person we care for
Hello, if you try any of the above it'd be great to learn from your experiences what worked and what didn't.
Tom I only found out about carers free about 3mth ago (been carer for hubby 20yrs) we went to beamish took paperwork but they didn’t need to see it , hubby signed his entrance card and I got in free saving £14 plus doesn’t have to be me anyone accompanying him can go free ! they made everything very easy and no issue at all
I'm a carer for my disabled partner - ive been using the cea card for years now and really get full use of it as going to the cinema is one of the few things my partner can do........ I also get a free carer ticket for concerts, theatre, etc by signing up with the 02 academy and other big concert venues as I carer - just find their accessible number and ask them about their scheme.
My son is in a wheelchair and I often plan days out around carer discounts. For our family of 4 it usually makes quite a difference. I am curretmy loking at Disneyland Paris and it seems that although it is not pubished in the Disney website a number of carers have gotten free entry buying tickets on the gate which is a hefty saving. I have also had reduced price tickets for Disney on Ice and have just recieved a free carers ticket to accompany my son to Insomnia 61 gamers show at the NEC in Birmingham at the end of August (lucky me
) We did struggle with support at cinema as they said we couldnt have a card to get a free carer until my son was older. We have also had a free carer to our local zoo, Guillivers resorts and various other attractions. Definitely worth asking! 
That is brilliant insight Victoria thank you very much for sharing it. There's quite a few members of Latest Deals who are carers, and many were unaware you can get any discounts at all. So great example of what can be done - every bit helps 
Tom It really does 🖒
They generally ask for proof of disability such as a letter from dr, blue bade etc. Its also useful to ask as although places like Legoland didnt do a carers ticket they did give us fast track tickets and a guide for which rides we could enter through the exit. This was great value as we only had to wait a fraction of the time therefore got to experience lots in a day. We also get half price tickets for both my son and me when we get the train
Alton towers do that too and they let diisabled on rides first in some cases which helped us when we stayed there , we were in charge of our grandchildren so spent our whole time in CBB land and my husband whose worse now was using a stick got to get on a ride first so he could take his time to get settled . Good to know this card is worth getting . Thank you
I'm my adult daughters carer and my husband is disabled too although i dont get paid to look after him would i qualify for these
I dont get any benefits as a carer and use all of the carer freebies. National trust are great if you just take proof of disability lity letter
Best to ask for a Carers Assessment from your local authority. There may be help you can get.
Letter of proof is really helpful quite a few places.. Zsl london zoo for example let carers go free 
so always handy to have a copy on you.. we are often surprised where we have been able to use it and get discount/ free entry cea card is really useful too.. Dont use it an awful lot but its pretty cheap in the first place so pays off quickly
Thanks a lot for your advice, Tom. I've been a carer for 35 years, half my lifetime, and apart from the meagre Carers Allowance until I was 60, I haven't been given very much to help me or my cared-for. I'll definitely look into this more deeply.
You can also get a carers passport which is a card that entitles the cardholder to discounts in loads of places, you can find them on Google. Also children with autism can apply for a hands card, the benefits differ on each place that accepts it.
For anyone in Bristol, this website has an exhaustive list https://www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk/our-services/discounts-for-carers/
I'm not sure - it'd make sense if you were taking those you look after out and about or shopping on their behalf. Always worth asking!
I have found the London theatres to be very helpful and most offer a free ticket for the carer
I have just got my Carers card do u have to have the person that u care for with when claiming these discounts
It seems to have been overlooked but if the person being cared for is not a relative or partner and they need more than 35 hours care a week, then if the carer lives with them the carer is almost definitely exempt from Council Tax.
It is too complicated to explain here but this gives fuller details.https://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/looking-after-someone/carer-benefits/help-with-council-tax-for-carers/
Just to let you know.
The Cinema card isn't needed to obtain the free carers seat.!!
take proof of disability to cinema when booking and ask for free Carers seat.
I have done this at my local oden cinema.
To have a cinema card you do have to pay for it, I know its a small fee, but as I don't use the cinema very often, it doesn't justify getting the card for myself.
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