Blue badge examination this morning........

Good luck

When DS applied for his the woman was very understanding and he got his with absolutely no problem!

I hope you get it - they are a huge boon. Please let us know.

Luckygirl , describe you are on your WORST days. As soon as you come in the door, you will be observed. Bear that in mind.
You may get asked questions like. How did you get here?; How long did it take you to walk from your car?; Do you attend physio or occupational therapy?; Do you have a walking stick? Did a physio give you a walking stick or did you buy it yourself?.
If you have any hospital letters, take them with you.

They will be professional and you will probably find that they will be kind to you.
The very best of luck.

Luckygirl I do hope you qualify, it would make things so much easier.
Now for confession time,
on seeing the heading of your post,I thought 'how clever' I would never be able to retain all the facts needed to answer questions.
I thought you were going to be a Blue Badge Guide, sorry

I didn’t have to go for a test, perhaps different councils?. Just filled out a form with medication details, doctor signature and that was it.

I would just advice that you tell the truth, and remember they will be watching, perhaps have cameras in the car park?. But I don’t believe they are evil, trying to catch you out, just ensuring only those that need them, get them.

Good luck

Good luck - Paw’s just came in the post, more or less by return. I think the litany of all he had wrong with him just bored them into submission.
Remember as Marydoll says, to present as you can be on a bad day at your worst

My advice is to write down how you are because you will forget things on the day. I am due to do this soon too. Difficult with fibromyalgia and CFS. It doesn't show. Good luck. I hope get it. It makes such a difference.

Thanks everyone. Some people get it because they are on a qualifying benefit -in OH case, higher rate attendance allowance. The rest of us mortals have to go for an examination as the GP can no longer sign these off.

The person I am seeing is a physio - actually I know who she is as she is the stepdaughter of my OH's former medical partner.

My council is very strict and expect me to be almost wheelchair bound. I did not have to appear before somebody 3 years ago but each time I fill in a form I add another poorly working joint to it and last time I had been visiting a chronic pain clinic so they decided just to send me a blue badge as I was on the decline..

Mine needs renewing in December but I do not think I will be allowed to drive soon so I will have to think again.

Good luck. They will watch you from your car and when you go back out again, so no hops, skips and jumps once you leave If only, eh?

But just because you may not be driving Charleygirl does not rule out your retaining your blue badge for use by others when they are driving you.
My mum had one for years, mostly used by my aunt and uncle whenever they were taking her out.
I keep trying to get my friend whose husband has Alzheimer’s and is exceedingly frail and unsteady, falling regularly, to apply for one so that when I or another friend takes them to Waitrose we don’t have the palaver of trying to drop them off, then go off to find a parking space (usually over the other side of the car park) and then the same process in reverse when they are finished. .

I agree, Maw I will apply for the simple reason I cannot get out of any car unless I can open the door fully and that is impossible in a "normal" car park space. Also I cannot walk that far, especially if spaces are limited and I have to walk a distance to the supermarket door.

The trials of old age, nobody explained all of these problems to be or I may not have signed up for it!!

Luckily (!?) I have an automatic car and I broke my left foot, so I am able to drive. We bought this car a few months before I broke my foot. How very fortunate I am!!

My DD applied for a blue badge. She receives DLA for her sons who are autistic. She got it without any problems. They are all able bodied and lively, but qualified for various blue badge as they are a flight risk.
I hope you are successful. Good luck.

Where did various come from?

My friend had a son with Down's syndrome and an extremely serious heart condition and she used to despair when she was sent forms to fill in. has the condition been resolved since last application ? she once sent a note saying if they knew of a cure for Down's she would be interested to hear about it.

Ridiculous questions sometimes. One set of questions doesnt fit all!

I have a blue badge here, no car but for use with other drivers, I rely on it a lot. The expiry date is 31/12/9999 !!!!.
I just looked at it and it is for all countries in the Community European, I wonder if I would be safe to still use it after Brexit. I use it a lot when visiting the UK. This is not a brexit rant or anything I just never thought of that, and would a UK one be ok to use here as a few friends use them when visiting.

Well - had the examination/test or whatever. First mad thing - the place has no car park!!!!

Lady was somewhat distant, and said she was going to go through forms with lots of questions (this took about 25 mins) and then she would do a walking observation. You have to score at least 12 and all the points are allocated on the walking observation and none on the answers to all the questions!

I explained to her that when I set off walking I am in only a little pain for a short while and then it starts to kick in. So she timed me with a stop watch on a very short walk - so that was not particularly helpful or representative of the nature of the problem.

I now have to wait 2 weeks.

I was not going to lie or exaggerate, so I guess I will not get it - hey ho!

Indeed they have refused it in the grounds that I was able to walk a very short distance - which is crazy as getting from the city car parks to anywhere (dentist, concert whatever) is much further and it is then that the pain kicks in.

Nor did she take account of the things I told her, like walking in the dark is very difficult because my balance fails, I have CFS and there are days when I am in a bit of a pickle - exhausted and having to rest frequently.

She said I did not qualify because I do not get out of breath - unlikely with a broken foot!

Anyone tried the appeals system?

I'm sorry, Lucky, if it's not one bloody thing it's another!

I have no personal knowledge of the appeals system (and can't remember what it entails) but I know of a few people who care for people with dementia who have. I think they have mostly been successful - one lady was convinced she was successful because she cried to who ever she talked to on the phone.

It can't do any harm I suppose if you can take the aggro. Good luck!

I am so sorry to hear this and would be the last person to advocate “playing the system” but you must reapply and bear in mind the ridiculous reasons they gave.
One, if called for an assessment, say you can’t because of no parking
Two, a reasonable test of fitness is can you walk and talk without getting short of breath?
Probably not.
Do not say you have trouble with balance issues, tell them about falls you have had.
The language you used in your post sounds like putting a brave face on things - that is not the name of the game.

Try again but perhaps take more advice on filling in the form first.

And, I agree with Maw's advice.

I can’t really see the advantage of a Blue Badge except inasmuch as it lets you park in an wider area so you can unload a wheel chair or walking frame.

I know it places you a bit nearer to you destination but in terms of relative distances from eg. the city car park to your dentist surely that is only yards saved? Or metres if you prefer?

I’d go more for the balance issue and unloading a walking aid next time.