Our sign-up categories

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your NHS work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account. 

Our team may use information on your company's website along with your work ID to review your application:

Approved forms of ID:

Work ID card/NHS smart card showing:

• Name
• NHS, hospice or employer working in partnership with the NHS

Payslip showing:

• Name
• NHS, hospice or employer working in partnership with the NHS
• Dated within 3 months
• Self-employed GPs can provide an invoice showing name and practice

Reasons why your ID might be declined: 

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to the NHS from your ID card/payslip

Have you retired from the NHS?

Make sure you select 'Retired NHS' from the trust/division list when signing up! Find out more information about ID to be provided here.

If you have retired since you first signed up and are renewing your card, please upload the retired ID and we can update this for you during your renewal.

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your police service work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Police service affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a police service from your ID card/payslip

Are you a Special Constable?

When completing your card application we would need to see the below:

Please note the below document must be signed by your sergeant and show the name registered to your Blue Light Card account.

• A Headed letter from your Police Constabulary

Are you a Call Handler for BT999?

If so, you would be eligible for a Blue Light Card! For us to be able to approve your card application, we can only a Blue Light Card branded letter from BT999 that shows your name and that you are a BT999 Call Handler. (Please note - the letter will be provided to you by your employer. Do not upload your ID card or payslip as this will not be accepted).

Have you retired from the Police Service?

Make sure you select 'Retired Police Service' from the trust/division list when signing up! Find out more information about ID to be provided here.

If you have retired since you first signed up and are renewing your card, please upload the retired ID and we can update this for you during your renewal.

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your Fire & Rescue service work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Fire Service employer

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Fire Service employer
• Dated within 3 months

Reasons why your ID might be declined:

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a fire and rescue service from your ID card/payslip

Have you retired from the Fire Service?

Make sure you select 'Retired Fire Service' from the trust/division list when signing up. Find out more information about ID to be provided here.

If you have retired since you first signed up and are renewing your card, please upload the retired ID and we can update this for you during your renewal.

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your Ambulance, NHS, St John Ambulance or St Andrew's Ambulance work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account: 

Accepted forms of ID:

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Showing Ambulance Service, NHS, St Andrew's Ambulance OR St John Ambulance

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Showing Ambulance Service, NHS, St Andrew's Ambulance OR St John Ambulance
• Dated within the last 3 months

Reasons why your ID might be declined:

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to an ambulance service from your ID card/payslip

Have you retired from the Ambulance Service?

Make sure you select 'Retired Frontline Ambulance Staff' from the trust/division list when signing up. Find out more information about ID to be provided here.

If you have retired since you first signed up and are renewing your card, please upload the retired ID and we can update this for you during your renewal.

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Eligible school affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Eligible school affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Work email address:

• A trusted work email address which can be verified as proof of ID. If this is not successful, a work ID card or recent payslip would need to be provided as an alternative

Eligible school types:

• Special Schools, Referral Units & Centrally Employed
• Secondary Schools - England
• Secondary Schools - Scotland
• Secondary Schools - Wales
• Secondary Schools - Northern Ireland
• Sixth form/colleges
• Early Year & Primary Schools - England
• Early Year & Primary Schools - Scotland
• Early Year & Primary Schools - Wales
• Early Year & Primary Schools - Northern Ireland

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to an eligible school from your ID card/payslip

Retired teachers are not eligible for a Blue Light Card at this time.

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

Your employer must fall under one of the following organisations to be eligible:

• Homeless Connect (Northern Ireland)
• Cymorth Cymru
• Homeless Network Scotland
• Homeless Link (England)

To find out if your employer is eligible, please register under the 'Social Care- Homelessness' service, and take a look at the organisations listed on the drop down menu under 'Your Employer'.

Note- You can start typing to search the drop down menu and if you are employed within a Local Authority/ Council, please select 'Council (Direct affiliation to Homelessness)'

Accepted forms of ID: 

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Eligible employer affiliation*

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Eligible employer affiliation*
• Dated within the last 3 months

*Please note, for some organisations who's work is multifaceted, we may need to see further information such as your job role and department to verify your work within Homelessness. You can show us this by uploading a copy of your ID card or Payslip alongside your Contract of Employment. 

Currently, Volunteers are not eligible within the Homelessness sector, but this will remain under review.

Reasons why your ID might be declined: 

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to verify your work within Homelessness from your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below that matches the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Accepted forms of ID:

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Dated within 3 months
• Armed Forces affiliation

Reasons why your ID might be declined: 

• The name on your payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to the Armed Forces from your payslip

Have you retired from HM Armed Forces?

Make sure you select 'HM Armed Forces Veteran' from the trust/division list when signing up. Find out more information about ID to be provided here.

If you have retired since you first signed up and are renewing your card, please upload the relevant ID and we can update this for you during your renewal.

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Social Worker job role

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Social Worker job role
• Dated within the last 3 months

Your valid Social Worker registration number:

• Social Work England
• Social Care Wales
• Scottish Social Services Council
• Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip/registration number doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a social worker job role from your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below that matches the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Your employer must be registered with one of the below regulators and have been inspected by them within the last 12 months to be eligible employers.

• Care Quality Commission (CQC) England
• Care Inspectorate Wales 
• Care Inspectorate Scotland 
• Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

Our team may use information on your company's website along with your work ID to review your application.

Accepted forms of ID:

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Eligible Care Company employer

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Eligible Care Company employer
• Dated within the last 3 months

Reasons why your ID might be declined: 

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find record of your employer on one of the above regulatory authorities.  

CQC employees

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• CQC employer

Payslip showing:

• Name
• CQC employer
• Dated within the last 3 months

Shared Lives Carers

Please contact Shared Lives Plus for information on work ID.

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Care Home employer

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Care Home employer
• Dated within the last 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a care home from your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Our team may use information on your company's website along with your work ID to review your application.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Residential Care job role/employer affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Residential Care job role/employer affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a residential care facility from your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• A health and social care department OR Children's Trust 

Payslip showing:

• Name
• A health and social care department OR Children's Trust 
• Dated within 3 months

ID card or payslip doesn't show a social care job role/department?

You'll also need to provide us with a council contract/statement of particulars showing your health and social care department alongside the ID card or payslip

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• Your council ID card/payslip did not show a health and social care department

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Foster Carer or Foster Parent job role

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Foster Carer or Foster Parent job role
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip card doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• Your ID card/payslip did not show your role

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account. 

Independent Living Group (ILG) ID card showing:

• Name
• Personal Assistant job role

Want to find out how to sign up for an Independent Living Group ID Card? Find out here.

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card doesn't match your account
• You've not provided us with an ILG ID card

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Pharmacy or NHS affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Pharmacy or NHS affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Your valid General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) registration number

Work for Boots or Superdrug pharmacy?

Show us a Boots or Superdrug contract with your pharmacy affiliation alongside your valid work ID card or payslip

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a pharmacy from your ID card/payslip

Have you retired from the NHS?

Make sure you select 'Retired NHS' from the trust/division list when signing up! Find out more information about ID to be provided here.

If you have retired since you first signed up and are renewing your card, please upload the retired ID and we can update this for you during your renewal.

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a valid General Optical (GOC) registration number and one form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

• Payslip
• Work ID card 

Please list your GOC number in the 'position' field when signing up.

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your identification doesn't match your account
• You did not provide your GOC registration number when signing up

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Our team may use information on your company's website along with your work ID to review your application.

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Dental Practice employer affiliation OR NHS payslip
• Dated within 3 months

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Dental Practice employer OR NHS ID/smart card

NHS Payment Schedule

Please note the Payment Schedule must show the NHS dental practice you are employed in, the name registered to your Blue Light Card account and dated within the last 3 months. If your name does not appear on this document a valid payslip will need to be provided alongside this.

Valid General Dental Council (GDC) registration number

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find evidence that your employer is a dental practice

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Payslip showing:

• Name
• MOD Police affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• You provided an MOD door pass - this is not a form of ID we can accept
• The team were unable to find affiliation to the MOD from your payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Payslip showing:

• Name
• MOD Fire affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• You provided an MOD door pass - this is not a form of ID we can accept
• The team were unable to find affiliation to the MOD from your payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account. 

Payslip showing:

• Name
• MOD affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• You provided an MOD door pass - this is not a form of ID we can accept
• The team were unable to find affiliation to the MOD from your ID card/payslip

Top tip!

You'd also be eligible if you work for any of the below organisations, with payslips to show:

• Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA)
• Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
• Defence Business Services (DBS)
• Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)
• Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
• MOD Guard Service (MGS part of DIO)
• Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA)
• UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO)
• Defence Relationship Management (DRM)
• Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA)
• Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)
• Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO)

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your @homeoffice.gov.uk work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Home Office affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to the Home Office from your payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account. 

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• HM Prison OR Probation Service affiliation OR associated service/job role (listed below)

Payslip showing:

• Name
• HM Prison OR Probation Service affiliation OR associated service/job role (listed below)
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a prison or probation service from your ID card/payslip

Top tip!

You'd be eligible if your ID card or payslip shows any of the below services or job roles:

• HM Prison and Probation Service (HMP)
• Prison Service
• National Probation Service
• Scottish Prison Service
• Warrant Officer (WO)
• Detainee/Detention Custody Officer (DCO)
• Prison Custody Office (PCO)
• Escorting Services

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Highways affiliation AND Traffic Officer job role

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Highways affiliation AND Traffic Officer job role
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to see a Traffic Officer job role on your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Our team may use information on your company's website along with your work ID to review your application.

Eligible organisations

• Search and Rescue 
• 4X4 Response
• Cave Rescue
• Lowland Search and Rescue
• Mines Rescue
• Mountain Rescue
• Search and Rescue Dogs
• Coast Patrol and Rescue
• RAC

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Eligible organisation affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Eligible organisation affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Work email address (RAC only)

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a search and rescue organisation from your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• British Red Cross affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• British Red Cross affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your RNLI work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• RNLI affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• RNLI affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Headed letter:

• A RNLI Headed Letter confirming your current role within the RNLI, signed by your Station Commander dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Independent Lifeboat organisation affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• Independent Lifeboat organisation affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to an Independent Lifeboat organisation from your ID card/payslip

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your eligibility is adding and verifying your Coastguard work email address during the application. If this doesn't work, we'll need to see one of the below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account:

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• HM Coastguard OR National Coastwatch Institution affiliation

Payslip showing:

• Name
• HM Coastguard OR National Coastwatch Institution affiliation
• Dated within 3 months

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card/payslip doesn't match your account
• Your payslip did not show a date from within the last 3 months
• The team were unable to find affiliation to HM Coastguard from your ID card/payslip

To be eligible under this category, you need to be able to provide a form of the ID listed below matching the name on your Blue Light Card account.

Our team may use information on your company's website along with your work ID to review your application.

Work ID card showing:

• Name
• Blood Bikes affiliation

Common reasons for ID decline under this category

• The name on your ID card doesn't match your account
• The team were unable to find affiliation to a Blood Bikes organisation from your ID card

If you do not fall under any of these categories then you would not be eligible for Blue Light Card at this time.

However we do review our eligibility criteria regularly so keep an eye out on our FAQs and social media channels for updates!