Grrr - blue badge

TaBunny

tenacioust123 wrote: »

It's not difficult if she reaches the critria, and age has nothing to do with it. Why don't you give it ago, you have nothing to lose. It just might make yours and her life a lot easier.

Good luck

What I meant was that you can't get a badge just due to age and frailness there has to be other stuff to tick their boxes. So yes any age can get one you don't even have to have a car but I know many people who have applied, all of whom are considered disabled by the department of works and pensions and yet they've failed the new physiotherapist personal face to face interviews. Swings and roundabouts but yes worth applying at least.

Deb1978

This is on thing that drives me mad is the abuse of the disabled bays.
I became disabled last year and applied for my badge.
I do get a lot of looks as to look at me you wouldn't know I was disabled as I am young in my 30's but I have walking problems and need wide space to open my door fully as I have to turn in my seat to get out the car.
Due to my back illness (CES)

I went to tesco the other day and saw a car next to me with no badge in.
So I went to a member of staff and complained and he said no worries will put a note on the car.
Half hour later got back to my car and it was still there nothing has been done.
I have complained to the store manger and have to ring him about it as he wants to look into it.

If someone in your family shops sometimes and needs to be close to the door and a wide space to get out the car. There is no harm in apply for a badge.
My Aunt has one as well as my uncle. Its handy for them if another member of the family takes them out.

Blue badges are there for a reason and that is for people who have a disability whether they drive or not.

But I do wish people wouldn't judge people before knowing what is wrong.
Don't judge a book by its cover.

Glyndwr_2

TaBunny wrote: »

What I meant was that you can't get a badge just due to age and frailness there has to be other stuff to tick their boxes.

You can get a blue badge automatically due to age in some places.

Antispam

They may be a genuine reasons but they are not entitled to park in a blue badge area if they dont display a valid blue badge and the holder is in the car it doesnt have to be the driver.

There is enough bone ideal people who abuse this as it is I am not talking abut genuine users but those who cant be bothered to walk for few extra yards.

Even if you have a health problem/temporary disability (broken leg) you are not entitled to use it as yet although I think that is about to change.

LittleTinker wrote: »

Personally I wouldnt challenge anyone who parked in a disabled space without a badge for a couple of reasons.

1, There may be a genuine reason why they are parked there and may not have a blue badge.
2, Its none of my business.

These people who stick stickers and the like on people's windows, (thinking they are being clever), are idiotic.

If I were to come back to my car to find those stickers on the windscreen and then realise that I had forgotten to the put the badge out, I would be in floods of tears with upset. I am not able to peel stickers off.

The thing that annoys me more than anything is that you dont always need to have a Blue Badge to park there....and it should be between the supermarket and the customer..no one else!!!

Antispam

AS far as I am aware you only get a blue badge automatically if you get the highest award of the DLA

Anyone else gets one is on a case by case basis and you need a medical to prove you cant walk great distances

Babshubbie

Glyndwr wrote: »

You can get a blue badge automatically due to age in some places.

There are EU regulations to which local authorities have to adhere. Where can you get one "automatically due to age"? It would be a major abuse of the system and should be stopped.

Unity

Babshubbie wrote: »

There are EU regulations to which local authorities have to adhere. Where can you get one "automatically due to age"? It would be a major abuse of the system and should be stopped.

There was a clickable link in Glyndwr's post (the word automatically) it links to Inverclyde Council's Blue Badge scheme and it does indeed say that you can have a blue badge - see the following which I've copied and pasted:

You can apply for a Blue Badge if you:

• Are Receiving Mobility Allowance/Higher Rate Mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
• Get a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement
• Are registered blind
• Get A Government Grant for your own vehicle or use a vehicle supplied by a Government Department*
• Are over 80 years of age*
• Have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or difficulty walking
• Have a severe disability in both upper limbs

I must admit it surprised me, but the ones marked with an asterisk are 'automatic'.

Ames

I'm shocked, I really am. I don't have a problem with the elderly getting a badge if they need one, but automatically's going a bit too far I think.

Babshubbie

Me, too. And I am 82 very soon!

Pete268

Antispam wrote: »

AS far as I am aware you only get a blue badge automatically if you get the highest award of the DLA

Anyone else gets one is on a case by case basis and you need a medical to prove you cant walk great distances

The 'automatic' issue criteria as set down in the Department for Transport Guidance to local authorities are:

In receipt of Hight Rate Mobility Component of DLA or

In receipt of the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement or

Are Registered Blind.

All other applicants should be disabled and subject to the local authorities procedure for issuing blue badges.

I find it hard to believe a local authority can be permitted to issue a BB based on age only but the example posted a couple of posts above shows they obviously can. To me it totally devalues the credibility of the Blue Badge Scheme if the only criteria to issue a blue badge is to be over a certain age with no need to have any disability at all. Particularly as a badge issued to an over 80 (with no disability) by that authority can be used to park in a blue badge bay anywhere in Europe.

Peter