Teachers and school support staff now eligible for a Blue Light card

[noblegiraffe]

In case any teachers don't follow Mr P and aren't aware, teachers and school support staff (including sixth form colleges) have been added to the list of people eligible for a Blue Light card. If you pay £4.99, you get two years of discounts at multiple places.

https://teachers.bluelightcard.co.uk

Because teachers love a bargain there's currently over an hour waiting time to sign up, but it was only announced yesterday so will hopefully calm down soon.

It feels nice to be recognised as essential community workers!

bluelight meant emergency workers…those that risk they’re lives to save others, work 24 hour shifts, miss christmases, time with family...generally put up with all of societies crap! Doesn’t really make sense. Teachers are “key workers” this term that started in covid but from memory so were lorry drivers, sainsburys staff etc? Didn’t see teachers on the front line of the riots recently. Bluelight are clearly diluting the eligibility to get more revenue from members, it’s nothing to do with recognition of teachers. All that will happen is the discounts on offer will drop in value if every Tom, dick and Harry start to claim them. The point of exclusive discounts to members is they’re exclusive…. May as well cancel the membership!

I didn't see any dentists on the front line of the riots either 🤷‍♀️

Can’t say I agree with dentist getting it either but they opened it up to all the NHS rather than frontline.

Well, I've just used mine for the first time and saved £22. And I'm 'only' a supply teacher.

Bank employees were classed as key workers too - even in investment banks as it was considered crucial that the markets kept functioning.

What's KAARP please?

I have resigned from a school support role and have a number of exit interview feedback topics. One being how the school communicates/offers benefits (which might not cost them anything but they dont even seem to want to investigate).

Not getting in to who does and doesn’t deserve it, except to say maybe naming it a public sector card would be more apt.

Anyhow, I sent my id in on 9th August and am still waiting for approval. I can use the app though - thanks for the tip, I hadn’t even downloaded it before.
How have people signed up without submitting ID?Was it in the app? Iirc, the website asked you not to use your work email add- or have I made that up?

I take it back about having app access- it just takes me to a screen that says awaiting id approval.

I signed up with my personal email address, which I had to verify. Then after I downloaded the app, I had to add a work email, which I also had to verify (sch.uk ending).

That's it so far. App seems fo be working as have a digital version of my card and have linked it to my Asda rewards app. Just waiting for the physical card to arrive in the post now.

@Meredusoleil thank you. I find this so strange. I have no digital card. I verified my personal email but also had to upload id, either work badge or payslip (I did work badge). Have signed in to the app but not asked for work email at all. App says no digital card as awaiting id verification. Can get some discounts but not others
I wonder why the application process is different for some people. I would have thought it was all running ion an algorithm. I’ve read some have been declined on id (even though they should be approved).

I think it may depend on your work email address? Is yours ending in sch.uk?

Also, my digital card didn't appear straight away. I think it was a few days later.

No, it’s @school.co.uk but they wouldn’t know that because they haven’t asked for it!

No idea then 🤷‍♀️

My id upload has been denied. Payslip.

I’ve heard a few stories of this- It’s bizarre. Did they say on what grounds?

No, just said to upload an alternative form of id - I considered ID badge but it has no dates etc on whereas my payslip was from this month, says my job role and name etc.

I uploaded my payslip and am waiting for confirmation. I am support staff. It gives the school and name, but doesn't confirm job title. But what is visible is the contribution to LGPS - which can of course only happen if you are a member of the local govt pension scheme. Teachers belong to a different scheme. So the employer name and the LGPS really is confirmation that you are support staff in a school.

Bonkers! What they need is a few teachers to sort out their processes.

My ID has been approved. No card in app yet- apparently once it’s posted it will show. Hope anyone declined gets it sorted out.

I just got mine approved as support staff, I uploaded my payslip, it didn't include my job title but did include pension contribution to a LA pension scheme.

I checked back on mine. Uploaded my work lanyard last week and still awaiting verification by a member of staff

Same! I applied the weekend we were allowed to and it took til Friday for them to deny the ID which was a payslip with all of the details that they needed on. I don’t have anything else, the laminated ID badge I have doesn’t say much. I sent the same payslip back again on Friday and raised a ticket, but I’m still waiting for anything.

Good luck everyone. I applied about a year ago (NHS worker). They took my payment immediately but I had to wait for about 3 months for my card. It took many attempts and now I’ve never got round to using it!