Scottish National Entitlement Card

The Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC) is a Scotland-wide smart card scheme run by the Scottish Government that is predominantly operated as a concessionary travel pass. It can also act as Proof of Age for young people (Young Scot NEC) and access to civic services such as libraries and leisure centres depending on the local authority.[1]

Each Scot is assigned a Unique Citizen Reference Number (UCRN) which the card system links each user to. The UCRN itself may be linked to NHS register data and used for verification purposes, raising fears that the UCRN will form the backbone of a Scottish identity register and persistent identification of individuals across Scottish state datasets.[2] The Open Rights Group has accused the scheme of creating "a national ID system by the backdoor", despite the Scottish Government's opposition to the UK's previous identity cards scheme.[3]

Concessionary Travel

The Scottish NEC offers certain disabled groups and persons aged 60+ access to free or discounted travel across various transport options.

Access to certain discounted options vary depending on where the pass was issued.

Eligibility Criteria

Disabled Cardholders

Main Cardholder

Entitlement for free bus travel with the NEC depends on being a Scottish resident, 5 years old or older and meeting one of the following criteria:

  • Receiving Disability Living Allowance under the higher rate of mobility or higher/middle rate of care.
  • Receiving the standard or enhanced rate of Personal Independence Payment.
  • Receiving Attendance Allowance.
  • Living in a care or residential home or hospital.
  • Being a Blue Badge holder.
  • Being profoundly or severely deaf.
  • Having a visual impairment.
  • Been told not to drive based on medical grounds.
  • Having a mental illness, learning difficulty or personality disorder recognised under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 which has lasted for more than 12 months.
  • Having a terminal illness.
  • Having a progressive degenerative condition.
  • Having lost one or more limbs.
  • Being an injured veteran with mobility problems.
  • Receiving a War Pensioner Mobility Supplement.[4]
Companion Card

If the main cardholder meets any of the following criteria, they are also entitled for a Companion to travel with them and, usually, attracting the same discount as the main cardholder:

  • Main cardholder receives the higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
  • Main cardholder receives the standard or enhanced rate of daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.
  • Main cardholder receives Attendance Allowance
  • Main cardholder is registered blind.
  • Main cardholder lives in a care or residential home and receive the higher or middle rate of the care component Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.[5]

60+ Cardholders

To get a National Entitlement Card you must be:

  • Aged 60+ and
  • Resident in Scotland [4]

Card issuing authorities

Concessions Available

Concessions available per Card Issuing Authority
Card Issuing AuthorityFreeDiscountedNotes
Bus / Coach TravelEdinburgh TramsRailFerryTaxiGlasgow Subway
Aberdeen CityYes - all local bus and scheduled long distance coach services (including the morning rush hour) but excluding premium fare night buses and City Sightseeing Buses. Valid on services that start/terminate in Carlisle and Berwick upon Tweed so long as service travels to/from Scotland.[6]NoTBCTBCTBCNoInfo TBC
AberdeenshireTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
AngusTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
City of EdinburghYesTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
ClackmannanshireNoTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Comhairle nan Eilean SiarTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Dumfries & GallowayTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Dundee City[7]NoNoConditions[8]Taxicard
East LothianTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
FalkirkTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
FifeTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
HighlandTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
MidlothianTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
MidlothianTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
MorayTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Orkney IslandsTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Perth & KinrossTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Scottish BordersTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
Shetland IslandsTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
StirlingTBCTBCTBCInfo TBC
SPT Councils[9]YesYesNoYesRail - Disabled Cardholders: To be expanded; 60+ Cardholders: Off Peak discount
West LothianTBCTBCTBCNoInfo TBC

Young Scot NEC

Young Scot is a national organisation supported by the Scottish Government that offers support and advice to 11- to 26-year-olds. As part of this, the Scottish Government supports the free Young Scot National Entitlement Card and offers every 12- to 18-year-old the opportunity to sign up for it.

Concessions Available

The Young Scot NEC gives cardholders:

  • authorised Proof of Age card for accessing age-restricted items including as alcohol and films.
  • discounts for various local and national deals. Local discounts vary depending on each Local Authority but may include free leisure access for certain ages and free access to certain library services.[10]

In addition, for young people aged 16- to 18-year-olds plus 19- to 25-year-olds who volunteer full-time, there are the following transport-related discounts:

  • 1/3 off most fares for Scottish rail journeys.
  • bus discounts - 1/3 off single adult fares. With most bus operators. Some operators require a Young Persons Bus Concession card which is available from offices that issue Young Scot cards. Even if all bus operators in that area give concessions to Young Scot cardholders, you may ask for a Young Persons Bus Concession card to use in other areas [11]
  • two free return journeys for islanders to visit the mainland per year (access via vouchers sent to cardholders).[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Entitlement Card Programme". Dundee City Council / Scottish Government. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  2. ↑ SCOTLAND-WIDE ID DATABASE RISKS PERSONAL PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES – UK INFORMATION COMMISSIONER No2ID News blog 5 March 2015
  3. ↑ Ruiz, Javier (2015-02-02). "A national ID system by the backdoor: the NHSCR Scotland Consultation". Open Rights Group. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
  4. 1 2 "Concessionary Travel / Applying and eligibility". Transport Scotland / Scottish Government. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  5. ↑ "Concessionary Travel / Companion Card". Transport Scotland / Scottish Government. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  6. ↑ "Transport Scotland: Terms, Conditions and FAQs". Transport Scotland / Scottish Government. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  7. ↑ "DCC: Concessions". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  8. ↑ "dundeetravelinfo - Taxicard information". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  9. ↑ "SPT: Concessions". SPT. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  10. ↑ "Young Scot Card". Young Scot. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  11. ↑ http://www.youngscot.org/info/881-young-persons-bus-concessionary-card
  12. ↑ "Concessionary Travel". Transport Scotland / Scottish Government. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
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