Blue badge

I do sympathise with you Luckygirl. This seems to happen so often when completing forms on government sites. So frustrating and time-consuming. Doesn’t help the stress levels. 🙄

I think it’s unacceptable that not every la uses the form on the govt website. I generally find the save button works properly on official forms that I’ve used But it sounds as though your form
might be a ‘one-off’ and not well designed. Having to renew 3 yearly when nothings changed or you’ve got worse is frustrating enough as it. It’s not a renewal it’s a new application . Good luck with your next attempt

Thank you.

Where I live in London, online applications weren't accepted and we have to arrive in person. I had to walk up and down and the assessor even watched me walk to the bus stop as there was nowhere to park.

I needed to open my door fully which was impossible if not in a spacious disabled parking space. Although I had one for 10 years, I was turned down. I no longer drive, which is a nightmare on its own.

Charleygirl5

Where I live in London, online applications weren't accepted and we have to arrive in person. I had to walk up and down and the assessor even watched me walk to the bus stop as there was nowhere to park.

I needed to open my door fully which was impossible if not in a spacious disabled parking space. Although I had one for 10 years, I was turned down. I no longer drive, which is a nightmare on its own.

Oh goodness - how truly awful. This is what a system with all compassion drained from it looks like. You can almost imagine the joy in the office as an assessor announces ‘yay another one turned down’

Similar with my driving licence renewal. Glad to say I now have new one after rigmarole. One of the problems is half the time there is no one to talk to and if you don’t answer every single question many forms won’t let you through to the next page. Good luck - try to keep your cool. I entirely sympathise.

The other thing I hate is if you do talk to a real person they often imply it’s your fault as if you are a doddering old idiot who has never seen a computer before let alone how to use one

Can you call and ask for a paper copy?
I would try that.

Luckygirl we have just been through the same thing trying to renew DH's Blue Badge. I'm sure they make it difficult to stop people trying!

DH gave in, in frustration, and I took over. Right at the end it gave the option to correct something which I needed to do so I clicked on that, corrected the word then it sent me back to the beginning.
Started again, got a third of the way through and it sent me back to the beginning again.

In the end we got a form from the local Hub, he filled it in manually and sent it off. Heard nothing, rang up and it is awaiting printing and Royal Mail could take up to a month to deliver it. Really? 🤔

Does your County use the same portal as ours I wonder?

It's not us, it has a glitch in the system.

I just checked re applications and apparently
Processing time: aim to process applications within a timeframe of up to 12 weeks.

😲

Allira

I just checked re applications and apparently
Processing time: aim to process applications within a timeframe of up to 12 weeks.

😲

Yes that seems to be the default time period. Upto now mine has come incredibly quickly but I’m dreading my next renewal (aka new application) as most peoples experiences seem to speak to a real hardening up.

Allira

I just checked re applications and apparently
Processing time: aim to process applications within a timeframe of up to 12 weeks.

😲

I always apply 3 months early for this reason....only took 2 weeks last time thou

LOUISA1523

Allira

I just checked re applications and apparently
Processing time: aim to process applications within a timeframe of up to 12 weeks.

😲

I always apply 3 months early for this reason....only took 2 weeks last time thou

I can understand if it's a first application although that does seem an inordinate length of time for a decision to be made, but for a renewal?

It took them 25 minutes to answer the phone in the Department so perhaps not surprising.

Done it! - with a number of compromises along the way.

Every new specialist you added had to have an email as well or the form would freeze and refuse to go on to the next thing. The only email I could find for the hospital was the PALS one so I just kept adding that in order to move on. Also it wanted a date when last seen and that too froze the screen.

Also there were only a set number of medications you could add, so that was a bit daft - I had to leave one out.

In another box I found space to say about these two problems and why I had answered as I had.

If you add in the time spent finding supporting documents (both medical and identity), photographing them, transferring them to laptop and uploading them to the form the whole thing took about 3.5 hours! I shall be pretty hacked off if they do not renew it!

I spent a large chunk of my working life as a social worker and it reminded me of the joy of helping people fill in benefits forms - designed to put people off I think!

It will be bonkers if I don't get it as I only had musculoskeletal and balance problems before and I was granted one - now I have heart problems too and am out of breath when walking.

Fingers crossed! - and good luck to anyone else facing these forms.

🤞for good news. I must say your form sounds utterly daunting. And definitely designed to deter. I think my major gripe ( as has been said by others) is that there’s no ‘permanent badge’ or at least a renewal form where you can tick ‘ no change’ or worsened. If AA can do it ( and that’s real money every week) why can’t the BB system? Oh well - they won’t. But again 🤞🤞Lucky

I does sound like the renewal procedure has changed since I last renewed my BB. I found it quite simple to do online……..no doubt someone has cottoned on and decided to make life even more difficult for those with a disability and made the process akin to rocket science 🤷‍♀️🤬

Astitchintime

I does sound like the renewal procedure has changed since I last renewed my BB. I found it quite simple to do online……..no doubt someone has cottoned on and decided to make life even more difficult for those with a disability and made the process akin to rocket science 🤷‍♀️🤬

Lucky told us that her LA have their own form and don’t use the one linked to the Govt web page. The message that sends to me is something going on there about deliberately wanting to make it as hard as possible for people to get a BB. A personal agenda

I’m just doing my first application via our local council’s dedicated webpage.

It appears straightforward, but needs so much evidence, proof of ID, photo that I’ve had to “save my progress” and locate what I need. Apparently I will get an email with a code to pick up where I left off! Hmmmm we will see later today!

Cossy

I’m just doing my first application via our local council’s dedicated webpage.

It appears straightforward, but needs so much evidence, proof of ID, photo that I’ve had to “save my progress” and locate what I need. Apparently I will get an email with a code to pick up where I left off! Hmmmm we will see later today!

I found that the save facility and code worked perfectly so hopefully that will be your experience.

Just out of interest Cossy, when I go onto my councils blue badge website, when it’s gone through a few admin bits, it gives a link which sends me to the Gov UK blue badge standard form. Does yours or do they have their own form ( like Lucky) ?

The save facility did not work first time, but when I closed and reopened it it worked OK.

I have no idea why my LA has its own form. It is somewhat tedious! Even the mildest degree of dementia would make it totally impossible which is unacceptable as the majority of those applying are likely to be elderly.

Tuliptree

Just out of interest Cossy, when I go onto my councils blue badge website, when it’s gone through a few admin bits, it gives a link which sends me to the Gov UK blue badge standard form. Does yours or do they have their own form ( like Lucky) ?

It appears to have its own? However, difficult to know as it’s my first application.

Luckygirl3

The save facility did not work first time, but when I closed and reopened it it worked OK.

I have no idea why my LA has its own form. It is somewhat tedious! Even the mildest degree of dementia would make it totally impossible which is unacceptable as the majority of those applying are likely to be elderly.

It just infuriates me that it’s so ruddy complex!

Cossy - when I click on the link it’s clear it’s the GOV UK form and not my local authority. I just have negative thoughts as to why a La would have its own form

Tuliptree

Cossy - when I click on the link it’s clear it’s the GOV UK form and not my local authority. I just have negative thoughts as to why a La would have its own form

When I go back I’ll take a peek and let you know if I tell