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I think I may be entitled to lower fees and hire charges - where do I find out more?

Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Libraries offer discounts to a number of their customers on fines, request charges, and loans for music, spoken word and films.

You may be entitled to these concessions if you are:

  • Aged between 16 and 18 (for requests only)
  • 60 years of age or over
  • Registered blind or partially sighted
  • Deaf or hearing impaired
  • Dyslexic
  • Housebound

There are also concessions for children and teenagers, if your child is registered visually impaired, hearing impaired or dyslexic then they will be entitled to free audio-visual loans. Children and teenagers already receive free reservations and much reduced overdue charges.

Also if you are receiving one of the following benefits or tax credits you may be entitled to concessions:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Disabled Person's Tax Credit
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Working Families Tax Credit
  • Jobseeker's Allowance

To take advantage of library concessions, you need to join the library.  Before issuing the library card, the library needs to see evidence that you are entitled to receive concessions.  If you are receiving benefits or tax credits, we will ask you to show evidence every six months.
If you are registered as a Library Link user, the services are free! 

 

How to obtain your concessionary ticket

Attendance Allowance

Deaf or Hearing Impaired People

  • Hearing aid
  • Sympathetic hearing card (other forms of evidence may be accepted)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disabled Person's Tax Credit

  • Award letter from the Inland Revenue
  • Exemption Certificate

Dyslexia

  • ID card from Bedford Dyslexic Association ( or confirmation of diagnosis)

Incapacity Benefit

Income Support

People aged 60 or over

  • Any official document stating your date of birth
  • Retirement Pension pay order book
  • Benefits Agency card stating that you receive Retirement Pension

Registered Blind or Partially Sighted People

  • Registration form BD8 (from opthalmologist)
  • Social Services card stating that the named holder is registered blind or partially sighted

Severe Disablement Allowance

Jobseeker's Allowance

Working Families Tax Credit

  • Award letter from the Inland Revenue
  • Exemption Certificate

* When you first start claiming social security benefits, you may also use as evidence the letter from the Benefits Agency to confirm that you are entitled to a particular benefit.  You may also use as evidence any subsequent letter from the Benefits Agency regarding the benefit.

Social Security Benefits

For more information about Social Security benefits, please see the official Social Security leaflets or consult your local Social Security office or Citizen's Advice Bureau, or visit the GOV.uk website.

If you are receiving a benefit that is not mentioned and think you may be entitled to receive concessions, please ask the library staff.

Tax Credits

For more information about tax credits please visit the HMRC website, or

  • consult your local Citizen's Advice bureau, or
  • ring one of the telephone helplines below, which are charged at local rates.  textphone numbers are available for people with speech and hearing problems

HMRC Tax Credits
Helpline - 0345 300 9000
Textphone - 0345 300 3909

To join the library, click here.

Page last updated: 17th January 2014