Applying for a blue badge

DH undergoing palliative care and has had chemo since August still ongoing. Can hardly walk the length of himself but not eligible for blue badge. If he fancies an outing he just has to sit in the car. Even attending for his 3 weekly chemo not allowed to park in disabled bays. I just can't figure out who does qualify.

Now that is grossly unfair. My friend got a temporary one, because she needed a new hip, yet actually managed to walk with little difficulty.
Is there no way you can appeal, 4allweknow?

When I first applied a few years ago, I was refused one. Then a few days later one was on my door mat. I obviously didn't query it and have had one on each renewal with no problem.

Extremely difficult, and I had to have a medical, which ignored my main illness as they didn't 'understand' it. They then concentrated on my arthritic hip - and said (after having a badge 10 years) that I was borderline! I pointed out my main illness made me anything but. I got the badge but only for 3 years...

As far as I know, badges are renewd after three years. They are here.

i worked with a woman who applied on behalf of her mother. the mother was blind, doubly incontinent and could not walk more than a dozen steps. the application was refused

our neighbour in his 80s has real issues with his knees and cannot walk far . Again refused

why do some people get them and others are refused ?

Very interesting thread this. I would like to apply for a blue badge as I need it when food shopping, and going out. I have arthritis in the medial third of each knee and wear orthopaedic boots. If I dose myself up with paracetamol I can walk into the shop, do the shopping and get to the till, but by the time I have pushed the shopping cart passed all the disabled parking stolts to my car I am knackered. At Aldi you then have to go all the way back with the empty trolly to get your £1 and then walk back to the car!!!

I sometimes park in the mother and prams section but do not want to offend anyone.

I think with age and arthritis there should be better understading of what a blue badge means for independent lifing.

At home my husband has kindly installed a through floor lift which has made a great difference to my day as before I came downstairs once and then upstairs once. Now i can come and go as I please.

"Those we see parking on double yellow lines, slapping down a blue badge certificate on the dashboard then leaping out of the car must have lied on the application form."
Not all disabilities are visible. Please remember that before judging.

To get a blue badge or PIP is an absolute nightmare in England, have to jump through hoops which is why I get so angry when lazy bones people park in the disabled bays because it is raining or they have a massive 4x4. I always think "If you want my disabled parking bay, you can have my disability too!" It annoys me that the most vulnerable people in society are put through the mill to get what they need, recently on TV wa sa documentary showing how many have commited suicide trying to claim disability benefits because the stress and trauma of it all is just too much to bear sometimes. I am already stressed about having to renew my PIP end of this year!

I was given a Blue Badge around 15 years ago which I needed. Then I was fitted with a defibrillator and found that I was so much better health wise I didn’t need it. Consequently I sent it back. (Many people thought that I was nuts). Recently my health has deteriorated and I reapplied and was given one. It is such a privilege to have one and I know that it is a palaver to get it but it wouldn’t be good if it was too easy.

I've had orange/blue badges since 1994, if I remember correctly I filled in a form, the council verified the information with my gp and I got my badge within a couple of weeks. I've never had an issue with renewing either.

@Pammiel

It’s important to remember that the Blue Badge is essentially issued on grounds of limited mobility and your medical condition must demonstrate such a limitation in order to qualify.

This WAS what the orange badge was originally brought about for back in about 1971, then it changed colour to blue in 2000 (I think) and yes, it has always been about physical mobility UNTIL recently when the government announced that they were going to start issuing them to people with mental health issues.

I completely understand that someone with mh issues is now considered to have a disability but based on what the blue badge is for, should they be given to people with mh issues but no mobility issues?

Disabled parking spaces are like rocking horse poo as it is without local councils doubling the number of badges issued.

Treetops05

Extremely difficult, and I had to have a medical, which ignored my main illness as they didn't 'understand' it. They then concentrated on my arthritic hip - and said (after having a badge 10 years) that I was borderline! I pointed out my main illness made me anything but. I got the badge but only for 3 years...

Blue badges are only issued for three years whatever the health condition. It’s easier to renew the badge before it expires as its just a renewal process instead of going through the whole application again.

DeeJaysMum

I've had orange/blue badges since 1994, if I remember correctly I filled in a form, the council verified the information with my gp and I got my badge within a couple of weeks. I've never had an issue with renewing either.

@Pammiel

It’s important to remember that the Blue Badge is essentially issued on grounds of limited mobility and your medical condition must demonstrate such a limitation in order to qualify.

This WAS what the orange badge was originally brought about for back in about 1971, then it changed colour to blue in 2000 (I think) and yes, it has always been about physical mobility UNTIL recently when the government announced that they were going to start issuing them to people with mental health issues.

I completely understand that someone with mh issues is now considered to have a disability but based on what the blue badge is for, should they be given to people with mh issues but no mobility issues?

Disabled parking spaces are like rocking horse poo as it is without local councils doubling the number of badges issued.

Some mental health conditions do affect mobility, and also speak to safety issues where there is a learning disability - this was what the change was meant to reflect. However badges are not issued to everyone with mental health problems - those with MH issues must demonstrate that their mobility is affected by the condition, in the same way as those with physical disabilities. There is a perception on this thread that all those with a disability should qualify for a badge - this is not so. Whatever your disability, it must affect your mobility to the minimum threshold for issue of a badge.

Pammiel not in my part of London. I have to go through the entire process each time. I do appreciate living here I should either be walking or on a bike and certainly not using a car.

cookiemonster66

To get a blue badge or PIP is an absolute nightmare in England, have to jump through hoops which is why I get so angry when lazy bones people park in the disabled bays because it is raining or they have a massive 4x4. I always think "If you want my disabled parking bay, you can have my disability too!" It annoys me that the most vulnerable people in society are put through the mill to get what they need, recently on TV wa sa documentary showing how many have commited suicide trying to claim disability benefits because the stress and trauma of it all is just too much to bear sometimes. I am already stressed about having to renew my PIP end of this year!

If it helps, have a look at the pensions and benefits threads. I posted some quite comprehensive information on PIP applications and various other benefits.

Charleygirl5

Pammiel not in my part of London. I have to go through the entire process each time. I do appreciate living here I should either be walking or on a bike and certainly not using a car.

I think there are some different rules for London in view of the geography. Parking rules for Blue Badge holders are different in London too - not being able to park on double yellow lines etc.

Paperbackwriter

"Those we see parking on double yellow lines, slapping down a blue badge certificate on the dashboard then leaping out of the car must have lied on the application form."
Not all disabilities are visible. Please remember that before judging.

I agree. There was a thread on disabled toilet facilities not so long ago and people were levelling similar accusations in that some people didn’t appear to be disabled. Before passing judgement please remember that there are those with heart problems, severe asthma and COPD, people with bowel/bladder urgency and incontinence, and those with stoma’s - all usually qualify for a Blue Badge if their condition is severe enough to affect mobility. And I am a wheelchair user - several months ago I pulled into a disabled parking space in a supermarket and my friend leapt out of the car to go round and help me with my wheelchair. She hadn’t even closed the door when someone jumped on her and started berating her for parking dishonestly. Exit one red faced busy body when she realised it was the driver who was disabled. People still have pre conceived ideas about what disability should ‘look like’.

kjmpde

i worked with a woman who applied on behalf of her mother. the mother was blind, doubly incontinent and could not walk more than a dozen steps. the application was refused

our neighbour in his 80s has real issues with his knees and cannot walk far . Again refused

why do some people get them and others are refused ?

Sounds as though a mistake has been made in your first example, but with regard to your neighbour - not being able to walk far in itself isn’t a qualification for a badge. It depends on whether you meet the minimum threshold and they have to have a cut off point somewhere otherwise no one would find a disabled space anywhere.

Sorry - posted too soon. There is also, I believe, policy in place for issue of Blue Badges to the elderly. Our own council here has a cut off point where mobility problems are caused by the natural ageing process and not by disability. Might sound harsh, but again, where do you draw the line ?

EmilyHarburn

Very interesting thread this. I would like to apply for a blue badge as I need it when food shopping, and going out. I have arthritis in the medial third of each knee and wear orthopaedic boots. If I dose myself up with paracetamol I can walk into the shop, do the shopping and get to the till, but by the time I have pushed the shopping cart passed all the disabled parking stolts to my car I am knackered. At Aldi you then have to go all the way back with the empty trolly to get your £1 and then walk back to the car!!!

I sometimes park in the mother and prams section but do not want to offend anyone.

I think with age and arthritis there should be better understading of what a blue badge means for independent lifing.

At home my husband has kindly installed a through floor lift which has made a great difference to my day as before I came downstairs once and then upstairs once. Now i can come and go as I please.

I would apply if I were you. If you have to take painkillers to be able to walk a reasonable distance and then you have issues with pain/fatigue afterwards, you may well meet the threshold.

4allweknow

DH undergoing palliative care and has had chemo since August still ongoing. Can hardly walk the length of himself but not eligible for blue badge. If he fancies an outing he just has to sit in the car. Even attending for his 3 weekly chemo not allowed to park in disabled bays. I just can't figure out who does qualify.

I’m so sorry but there’s no other way to ask this question - you mentioned palliative care so is your DH’s condition considered terminal ? If so you need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under the special rules. Get a DS1500 form from your GP or oncologist and your application will be fast tracked - he should qualify for both the mobility and care components and that will qualify him for a blue badge. If you don’t want to apply for PIP for any reason, still get the DS1500 form and submit it with an application for a blue badge. You will qualify.

It’s worth mentioning also that to qualify for a Blue Badge your condition must be considered permanent, and to substantially affecting your mobility. I think this is the minimum threshold for most councils, so if you are being turned down for a badge, it could be because your condition is not considered to be permanent.

kjmpde

i worked with a woman who applied on behalf of her mother. the mother was blind, doubly incontinent and could not walk more than a dozen steps. the application was refused

our neighbour in his 80s has real issues with his knees and cannot walk far . Again refused

why do some people get them and others are refused ?

Sorry, forgot to say - someone who is registered blind automatically qualifies for a blue badge.

I remember a question from years ago. It asked if your condition/s were progressivel.

Marydoll

I remember a question from years ago. It asked if your condition/s were progressivel.

I remember that too @Marydoll. The questioning now is to determine whether the condition can be considered permanent and substantially affecting mobility. Unless it’s both, there’s no entitlement to a badge.