The Senior citizen card, often casually referred to as an old age discount card, is a document that senior citizens carry around. They can use it to avail benefits since they are not always capable of handling challenges when it comes to getting about their daily life. While these benefits vary based on the individual and their specific documents, circumstances and requirements, these are some of the basics that senior citizens can avail.
Tax Benefits
Since most senior citizens are relying on the work that they did when they were younger, and do not have a steady stream of income, coming in, there are various tax benefits that people can avail of depending on their age.
Cheaper Air Travel and Railway Tickets
Travelling whether by air or rail is cheaper, if they produce their senior citizen card and ask for the discount that they are entitled. Depending on the amounts that they are asking for, they do receive some significantly cheaper deals, which are a lot more significant if they provide them when dealing with airfare.
Reduced Telephone Charges
While this might not be the case with all the telephone companies, there are some, usually run by the Government that provide some significantly cheaper plans for older people. Furthermore, they have utility plans for all the bills around the house, including electricity and gas, but this is not always the case, and there are exceptions.
Banking made simpler
Getting an older generation to make changes to their bank accounts and begin using internet banking can be quite a challenge. Many of them can barely get through using an ATM, and that is one of the main reasons why banking is a lot easier for the older generation now. Banks are also open to connecting them with a personal banker who can assist them with getting through several processes and some of the paperwork if needed.
Court Hearing Priority
While there are long queues when it comes to going through the court proceeding in India, there are changes that are being made through the system to allow senior citizens to get through it without having to wait in the queue. Furthermore, if it is a genuine emergency, they allow matters that are about a specific person to be pushed to a higher priority as well.
Welfare Schemes
Other than applying for welfare schemes, senior citizens also get preference when they stand in queues and are coordinating any other work, especially if they are dealing with Government departments and offices.
Simpler Passport Application
Applying for a passport can be quite a tedious process, and there are ways that they have made it easier by taking the application process online. Unfortunately, not all older people would be able to adjust to the website, so there are simpler methods when getting through the passport application process.
To make the application process for senior citizen cards easier as well, applicants get the assistance of another person and apply for them online. The process is quite simple with a user-friendly website and is easier since they do not have to travel to the office, which could take a lot of times. An applicant for a senior citizen card may now also apply for other types of cards, such as ration cards, employment identification cards, death certificates, and such.
