How is this correct

I really think enlisting the help of a local Councillor would be a good idea.
Sometimes the person making the decisions at County Hall just looks at the tick list and cannot make an considered decision.

Yesterday 22:17Allira

If you can’t walk more than 50m there is no point in going anywhere in the car - because you won’t be able to do anything when you get there.

I am still astonished by that statement!

Me too

The 50 metres is part of the PIP entitlement rules set out by government. Without PIP, one of the eligibility rules for a badge is that the person cannot walk at all ( so someone eg in a wheelchair can still get out and not be a prisoner in their home) or needs a walking aid of some sort, even if that is just another person supporting them walking. If sarahr still needs help completing the firm, I can help. Offer there for anyone else that may be struggling. Some authorities will complete an application over the phone but as it's very long winded, encourage online applications.

truman

My mother is 96 and my brother is her carer. She is on quiet a few pills for various things. She cannot walk far without getting out of breath. My brother has looked into getting a Blue Badge for the car so if she has to go to the doctors or hospital he can park nearer. He has looked into the criteria for getting a BB but she is not on the benefits listed to qualify. Why on earth does a very frail old lady have to be on benefits to get a BB when other people get everything!

You do not have to be on benefits to get a Blue Badge. Apply using her worst days as a guide to filling in the form. The worst days are the days she will need it.

Well done to your DD Georgesgran.
And to everyone who is determined to overcome the odds but needs that bit of extra help and consideration.

I'm still astonished by some of the questions DH had to answer when he applied for a blue badge, then was told he wasn't eligible because he could dress himself and could get himself a meal if necessary. 🤔
What that has to do with parking near the entrance to a shop or hospital I do not know.

I’m with you Allira but I can think of a couple of comments that wouldn’t be appropriate here!

Are you in the 21st century Lahlah65? Try telling DD2 who drives and has a Blue Badge, but can’t really walk at all, that it’s pointless going anywhere! She had her 42nd trip to New York in July.

If you can’t walk more than 50m there is no point in going anywhere in the car - because you won’t be able to do anything when you get there.

I am still astonished by that statement!

Lahlah65

Beechnut

The fifty metres baffle me. Is that with a walking stick or other aid? I’m sure I walk more than the fifty going around a supermarket but am grateful for the trolley.

I agree - it doesn’t make much sense does it? If you can’t walk more than 50m there is no point in going anywhere in the car - because you won’t be able to do anything when you get there. The BB parking at our hospital is at least 50yds from the entrance to the building.

I think it’s intended to deter people from applying. DM is 92 - she doesn’t need/qualify for a badge yet. But that time is coming. She has no specific health conditions apart from advanced age. The system doesn’t seem to allow for that.

Yes, it does make sense because the holder of the Blue Badge does not have to be the driver.
Even if someone cannot walk does not mean thry should be housebound. If they cannot actually drive then someone else could take them out and having a Blue Badge means they can park nearer their destination (usually), the spaces are wider and there is room to get out of the vehicle, retrieve a wheelchair or walking aid without having to do this in the way of moving vehicles.

If they are still driving, they may need extra room to get out of the car and take out a walking aid safely, if needed.

Even if they do not need a walking aid, they may still need to park as near to the destination as possible.

I think by benefits he is perhaps thinking she needs to have pip mobility or attendance allowance.. At her age it would be attendance allowance, not pip. Whilst receipt of attendance allowance strengthens the claim by showing there is a disability, they are separate claims and you don't have to be in receipt of AA. Might be worth checking if she is eligible though.

Beechnut

The fifty metres baffle me. Is that with a walking stick or other aid? I’m sure I walk more than the fifty going around a supermarket but am grateful for the trolley.

I agree - it doesn’t make much sense does it? If you can’t walk more than 50m there is no point in going anywhere in the car - because you won’t be able to do anything when you get there. The BB parking at our hospital is at least 50yds from the entrance to the building.

I think it’s intended to deter people from applying. DM is 92 - she doesn’t need/qualify for a badge yet. But that time is coming. She has no specific health conditions apart from advanced age. The system doesn’t seem to allow for that.

I used to process blue badges. She would qualify if she can't walk far, usually the criteria is less than 100 yards check the qualifying criteria on the local council BB website.

You don't have to be on benefits to qualify for a blue badge but it's worth checking out whether the lady qualifies for Attendance Allowance given her age and frailty. This will open doors for them.

Trueman There may be a lot of different conditions dependingvwhere you live but nitice uou say your brother would be able to "park nearer". My late husbsnd had a blue badge but I was not able to park using a disabled space in any publicly owned car park. Eg at hospital, I used the closeby parking bay, got husbsnd in wheelchair into entrance or if department was near and then I had to find a standard parking space. Once appointment finished I wheeled husband to near entrance, left him and went to collect car. Supermarkets are good as not publicly owned. Hope you live in a more liberal authority.

You do not to be in receipt of any benefit but most adults who have a disability will have some kind of benefit support eg Attendance Allowance. If your brother is your DMs full time carer he may have some allowance, if not your DM.

Babs03

I am about to complete an attendance allowance form for my DH whom I am a full time carer for. It is not based upon a person’s income but as M0nica said there are questions that need to be thought about and AgeUK can help, also several other agencies that pop up on google can help with this, but be careful, I imagine most do it for free but some might charge.
Have been advised not to do it online but to ask for the paper form to be sent in the post because the online version doesn’t give you enough room for your answers.
All the best

Ask if your health centre has a Social Prescriber. Ours did and she came out to the house and filled in the forms for my husband which was a fantastic help and is free. Blue Badge didn’t take long to arrive and is invaluable.

You definitely don't need to be in benefits to get a Blue Badge but some of the rules are ridiculous. My husband applied for a renewal Blue Badge (issued for the same reasons at the poster's mother) but was told he was being referred as it had been calculated on Google Maps that he could walk to our nearest bus stop based on the numbers we'd given. However this test should only have a applied to new claims and after an agonising month of waiting to speak to an occupational therapist the badge was issued. Neither of us have ever been on benefits.

You don't have to be on benefits to get a blue badge. Just get her GP to confirm. Age alone should qualify her, but you defo don't need to be on benefits.

you don't need to be on benefits to get a blue badge, but I think when he got to the online page to request on there are two options, if you get disability benefits like PIP at highest rate for mobility, you click it and the blue badge is instant 'yes', otherwise you have to fill in pages of forms explaining the medical reasons why you need one, providing dr details and proof of the disability, I did this for my mum who had COPD and they wanted lists of pills she was taking, dosage, dr evidence etc etc so yes it is more long winded getting a blue badge without benefits but can be done, but actually I am glad they ask for all that to save abuse of the system as there is already too many people abusing blue badges, eg borrowing them from family members, using them even once relative has died, using out of date ones etc

My mother has one and is not on benefits. Have you spoken to your mother's GP or social services?

Go ahead and apply. Cannot refuse your mum. Make a case for her.

My husband is not on benefits and has a blue badge. He applied on line. His GP phoned to ask a few questions and that was it.

I don’t think you need to be on benefits to receive a blue badge but it does make it simpler because they accept you fit the criteria for the disability benefit and so you must fit the criteria they need for issuing a blue badge. Otherwise your mom can request the doctor to give her the necessary information to qualify. Or your brother can do this with her permission. She definitely sounds like she she qualifies so tell your brother not to give up . Good luck.

You definitely don’t have to be on benefits . I’ve successfully obtained one for my 88 year old mum who struggles to walk far . Just put as much info about the problems on the form including any medical issues and medication . My mum has atrial fibrillation and postural hypotension both of which mean she feels dizzy after walking for any distance, and she qualified. I also uploaded copies of letters from her hospital consultant which confirms her diagnosis. You can do this easily if you apply on line by uploading a photo of the letter.

My late husband had a blue badge in his 70s because of mobility issues. We were not on benefits - just had a letter from his consultant. Keep trying - you certainly should qualify for one.

My mother in law, who is 89 is reasonably robust for her age, but she's had a blue badge for years. She isn't on benefits either

My aunt (93) and not on benefits and never has been….can walk with a Zimmerman, has a blue badge.