Applying for a blue badge

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.

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.

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.

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!

"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.

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 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 ?

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

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...

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.

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?

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 well remember how difficult is was getting my late husband a Blue Badge, I never thought we would get there! They wanted him to go for a physical assessment.. What I could not make them understand was he could only get there if he was having a good day, and then he would not need a blue badge!!! When he had a bad day (90% of the time) he could not even get out of the house! I finally got the message across and they accepted written confirmation of his condition from his doctor, but it took months!

My husband applied, couldn't walk anywhere even in the house without crying out in pain. He applied, including stating the distance he could walk, which was very little. He was refused and when he asked to see his form and the reason for refusal, it was because someone had altered the distance on the form to something much further, which disqualified him from being eligible ?. He asked his GP for support, and she stated in clear terms in a supporting letter, that hubby could not walk, needed all the support he could get, including the Blue Badge. Hubby appealed and then received the badge about 3 weeks later. We suspect that the council dept involved are under pressure to discourage car use and parking in Bristol, as our Mayor is extremely anti-car, trying to get everyone to walk or use the non-existent bus service.

It's easy compared with filling in my son's PIP forms

I think I had to pay £10 each time but well worth it.

They're free here but impossible to get one since the rules changed!

I have had my blue badge now for about 4 years and found it very simple to do. I had to send a copy of my repeat medication prescription and I also included a letter from my physiotherapist. I was then asked to go for an interview at the local office, was asked a few questions about my mobility and asked to walk as far as I could without pain which wasn't far. Interview over, all very easy. She then wrote her report and I had my blue badge after about 2 weeks. When it was up for review after 3 years I applied online, answered their questions agin and that was it. I think I had to pay £10 each time but well worth it.

Yes no problem just uploaded a copy of my pip letter and got within a week

Mum had Parkinson's disease and got one quite easily. Was a life saver.

Obviously different countries of the UK and even different Councils have different criteria.

GPs are no longer involved at all here, nor are hospital consultants although a letter of diagnosis can be provided as supportive evidence of a condition.

It was a very stressful experience. It really is about mobility but this is hard to assess so depends on the assessing team, often unfair. It is life changing though. But don’t assume too much if you see someone leaping out of a car. Sometimes my husband drops me at the door / seafront / and then takes the car to park as near by as he can, using the badge. That way I only have one walk to do not two. So it looks like a sprightly 76 year old is using the badge but he is hurrying back to a crock 72 year old.

Ten years ago I found it very difficult but last time renewing was easy.
The Attendance Allowance was extremely difficult.

We live in a London Borough. When DH got his disabled freedom pass they wanted him to give up his blue badge. Took awhile to explain the he would still need the blue badge to park at a station and not all hospitals etc were accessible by public transport if you can't walk. I think aloy of people who issue benefits to the disabled have no idea of what life can be like for disabled

I successfully applied for a blue badge and AA for my mother, who died before Christmas, and since then have successfully applied for both for my father. I worked on the lines of painting the darkest position possible whilst still telling the truth (as at least in the AA firm you have to consent to them contacting the GP if necessary).

I didn’t think I would get a Blue Badge but thought I would give it ago after my dr said he would support me.. I just listed my chronic medical conditions and the pain that I have when walking. It took awhile but I got it with no assessment or snything so I think it must depend on where you live. Recently I applied for Attendance Allowance and was awarded it within 4 weeks of applying. Once again I believe it was nodded through on my medical conditions.