Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card: Know How to Apply?

• Understanding the card: issued by the Government of India, a UDID card streamlines the availability of benefits for disabled Indian citizens.
• Importance of a unique disability identity card: To generate a national database of disabled individuals in India
• Application process of a UDID id card: Visit the official UDID portal and follow easy steps for a quick completion of the form
• Benefits stemming from a unique disability identification card: Ensures you can readily avail government benefits, concessions, and privileges reserved for you
• Eligibility criteria and types of unique disability ID: As per the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995, you are eligible for a card only if you fall under the list of specific disabilities.
• Impact of the UDID project: promotes an efficient and transparent delivery of government benefits to people with disabilities.
• A UDID card is issued through the Government of India’s Swavlamban portal to create a national database of individuals with disabilities and support easier delivery of government benefits.
• Disability certificates and UDID cards must be issued through the official UDID portal from 1st June 2021.
• Aadhaar authentication is required for benefits under the UDID scheme, but applicants who have not received Aadhaar yet can use an Aadhaar enrolment slip with accepted identity documents.
• The renewal request for a time-bound UDID card or disability certificate can be submitted through the PwD dashboard before expiry, as per the renewal SOP effective from 16th October 2024.

A UDID disability card, also known as a unique disability identification card, is a one-of-a-kind ID for those with disabilities. It streamlines the availability of benefits offered by the Government of India and tracks the implementation of these financial projects at the Village level, Block level, District level, State level, and National level.

A unique disability ID includes your unique ID number, disability-related information, and personal details. It aims to build an end-to-end integrated process of the issuance of a Universal ID & Disability certificate along with your verified identity and disability details.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities states that the UDID project is implemented to create a national database of persons with disabilities and issue a unique disability identity card to each individual.

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About the ECHS 64kb Smart Card

Scheme UDID Card

• Initiative by the Government of India
• Beneficiary Disabled Individuals, who are residents of India
• Objective: To generate a national database of disabled individuals in India
• Website https://www.swavlambancard.gov.in/

The Importance of a Disability Card

Here are some of the reasons why the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the Government of India launched a unique disability ID, India:

• Centralised web application and online data availability for people with disabilities in India.
• Non-repetition of PwD's data
• Easy online filing and submitting the application form. You can also submit an offline application that has been digitised by government-registered agencies.
• A speedy assessment process for calculating the disability percentage by hospitals.
• Update information and renew it online for people with disabilities or on their behalf.
• Successful and transparent management of the benefits and schemes implemented by the Government for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
• To ensure additional disabilities are taken care of, as per the new government acts.

A UDID ID card is functional throughout India, across all states and union territories.

The UDID portal supports online application submission, assessment by hospitals or medical boards, removal of duplicate records, online renewal and updating of information, and integrated management of government benefits and schemes for PwDs.

Note: Under the new UDID regime, there is no difference between a disability ID card and a UDID card. A certificate of disability and unique disability identification cards are issued to you by competent medical specialists, who issue an ID card using the details from the disability certificates. Once issued, the respective state government or union territory is notified of relevant services implemented for disabled individuals.

A government advisory dated 5th July 2024 clarified that the RPwD Act, 2016, does not impose a condition that disability certificates or UDID cards can be issued only to PwDs assessed at 40% or above.

Here are some of the reasons why the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the Government of India launched a unique disability ID India:

• Centralised web application and online data availability of people with disabilities in India.
• Non-repetition of PwDs data
• Easy online filing and submitting the application form. You can also submit an offline application digitised by government-registered agencies.
• A speedy assessment process for calculating the disability percentage by hospitals.
• Update information and online renewal of information by people with disabilities or on their behalf.
• Successful and transparent management of the benefits and schemes implemented by the Government for Persons with Disability (PwD).
• To ensure additional disabilities are taken care of, as per new government acts.
• A UDID ID card is functional throughout India, across all states and union territories.

Note: Under the new UDID regime, there is no difference between a disability ID card and an UDID card. A certificate of disability and unique disability identification cards are issued to you by competent medical specialists, who issue an ID card using details from disability certificates. Once issued, the respective state government or union territory is notified of relevant services implemented for disabled individuals.

Before applying for a UDID card, keep the basic documents ready. You need a coloured photo, disability certificate if already available, Aadhaar details and proof of address as documents required for applying for the UDID card and disability certificate.

If the applicant does not yet have Aadhaar, the official Aadhaar notification for the UDID scheme allows benefits until Aadhaar is assigned, subject to the applicant submitting the Aadhaar enrolment identification slip and one accepted identity document such as a bank or post office passbook with photo, PAN card, passport, ration card, voter identity card, MGNREGA card, Kisan photo passbook, driving licence, certificate of identity with photo issued by a gazetted officer or Tehsildar, or any other document specified by the department.

For a smoother application, applicants should upload clear documents and ensure that the Aadhaar-linked mobile number is active wherever Aadhaar OTP verification is required.

Also Read: PAN Card: Meaning, Documents, Eligibility & How to Apply

Whether you choose to apply for a disability ID on your own, or get someone on your behalf, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official UDID portal
2. Click on ‘Apply for Disability Certificate and UDID’
3. Fill in your personal, employment, identity, and disability details
4. Upload documents as mentioned on the website and submit

After submitting the application, the official process requires the applicant to visit the selected hospital or the CMO office when the application status shows Submitted Mode.

The hospital or medical authority verifies the application and conducts an assessment through specialist doctors or a medical board, and then the disability certificate and UDID card are generated electronically.

If an application has shortcomings, the Medical Authority can return it with remarks, and the applicant can correct and resubmit it from the PwD dashboard.

• Download your E-UDID card
• To download your e-UDID card, visit the homepage of the official website and enter your login details.
• Click on the e-disability card and find the E-UDID link
• Enter enrolment number, birthdate and captcha code to download.
• You can also use your smartphone to download the e-disability ID card and e-UDID card.
• Registered PwDs can download or print their disability certificates after logging in to the UDID portal.

• Track application status
• Find the official UDID website
• Click on the tab ‘application status’
• Use your reference number from the application to login
• Enter captcha code or a security question
• Once all details are verified, click on ‘check status’
• The page will show your UDID card application status.

The official tracking page allows users to track the application using a UDID number, mobile number, enrolment number or Aadhaar number.

Renewal and update options are now important because some disability certificates and UDID cards are issued for a specified validity period. A PwD who already has a time-bound UDID card or disability certificate can submit a renewal request via the PwD dashboard before the card or certificate expires.

The applicant may choose the same hospital that issued the earlier card or another hospital if the address has changed or if treatment related to the disability is being received at another hospital.

For e-KYC updates, the PwD applicant must log in using the enrolment number or UDID number and date of birth, open the update e-KYC module; enter or confirm Aadhaar, generate OTP and verify the 6-digit OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

After successful e-KYC, the applicant’s details are updated as per Aadhaar, and the applicant may proceed to download the updated UDID card or disability certificate, if applicable.

A unique disability identification card offers a host of benefits for people with disabilities. Some of them are:

• It provides a unique identification number to separate disabled individuals to maintain personal records.
• The card includes detailed information about the type and extent of disability. It allows the authorities to offer better services suited to your needs.
• The UDID card gives you quick and easy access to a variety of services intended for people with disabilities, offered by both government and non-government agencies.
• You can register for the UDID ID card online, helping you save time and ensuring the application process is accessible to all who need it.
• An up-to-date centralised database creates a systematic delivery of services for people with disabilities.
• Owning a UDID card ensures you can readily avail of government benefits, concessions, and privileges reserved for you.
• A unique disability ID India, works as a verification tool when accessing disability-related services or benefits.
• An all-in-one card, the UDID keeps all your information in one place. You do not need to carry separate documents when you apply for different benefits enforced for people with disabilities.
• The card contributes to creating an all-inclusive environment for people with disabilities, fostering a community that supports the financial and physical well-being of all.

Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, there are 21 types of specified disabilities, including locomotor disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech and language disability, intellectual disability, multiple disability, cerebral palsy and dwarfism, among others.

As per the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995, you are eligible for a card only if you fall under the list of specific disabilities. These are:

Blindness: You can suffer from the following symptoms: total blindness, visual acuity lower than 6/60 or 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses, 20 degrees or lower sight in the field of vision

Low vision: Impaired vision despite receiving refractive treatment.

Cerebral palsy: A non-progressive condition where you exhibit abnormal motor control due a result of brain damage incurred during pregnancy, perinatal or early infant period.

Mental retardation: A condition where mental growth is incomplete and is reflected by below average intelligence.

Mental illness: Any mental condition excluding mental retardation.

Hearing impairment: A loss of 60 decibels or more in the good ear within the range of frequencies used for conversation.

• Leprosy cured: You have been cured of leprosy but still have sensory loss in hands, feet, eyes and eyelids. Manifest deformity and paresis where you have adequate mobility to engage in normal activities. Extreme physical deformity that prevents you from undertaking any occupation.
• Locomotor disability: Any type of cerebral palsy that limits the movement of the limbs, joints, bones, or muscles.

The three types of cards available for the Unique Disability IDs in India are the following:

• White Card Issued to those with disability of below 40%
• Yellow Card Issued to those with disability above 40% but at or less than 80%
• Blue Card Issued to those with disability of above 80%

The Department’s 5th July 2024 advisory also states that applicants assessed below 40% disability should not be denied disability certificates or UDID cards merely because the disability is below 40%.

There are two types of validity offered for a UDID card:

Permanent UDID:

It is issued when there is no chance of progress in the disability of a person.

Temporary UDID:

It is issued when the medical authority sees either progress or regression in a person's disability.

Government Schemes and Concessions Linked With UDID Card

The UDID card is not itself a cash benefit, but it works as a common identity and verification document for disability-related services and schemes. The portal supports integrated management of government benefits and schemes for PwDs.

For education benefits, scholarship guidelines for students with disabilities advise registering for UDID, as it serves as the single document for identification and verification to access various benefits in the future.

For railway travel, PwDs holding a valid UDID card will be permitted to travel in unreserved Divyangjan coaches in mail/express trains, subject to holding a valid travel authority.

For assistive devices, the ADIP scheme helps needy individuals with disabilities procure durable, modern and standard aids and appliances that support rehabilitation and independent functioning.

For skill training, an Indian citizen with not less than 40% disability and a disability certificate issued by a competent authority may be eligible if other age and training conditions are met.

For financial assistance, the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation provides concessional-rate loan support for eligible individuals with disabilities to start or expand income-generating activities.

In most cases, the final benefit depends on the rules of the relevant scheme, disability type, disability percentage, age, income and supporting documents.

Implementing a UDID card in India is a move that promotes an efficient and transparent delivery of government benefits to people with disabilities. This comprehensive database of PwD ensures uniformity in an all-inclusive society, where disabled citizens of the country have the power to reap benefits due to their physical, mental, and emotional lacks. A paperless card, which also serves as a verification ID for disabled individuals, also prevents the misuse of government funds at various bureaucratic levels.

Also Read: Aadhaar Card Application: How to Apply for Aadhaar Card?