blue badges?

stompin-sarah

ive just been awarded the low rate mobility and middle rate care for my 5 year old son who has spina bifida. i used to only get the middle rate care...

what i want to know is am i eligable for the blue badge?

thanks

nic_santorini

yes, you should be. I am not eligible for any mobility funding but am eligible for a blue badge, so you can have one without the other. Just phone your local council and they will talk you through the blue badge scheme over the phone. Well my local authority did, they were very helpful. Hope this helps.

kazzah60

actually it will depend on your local councils policy
my local council does NOT give blue badges unless the applicant is in receipt of HIGH rate mobility
they do have the power to use their discretion in some circumsyances, but you may not necessarily get a badge automatically

Good luck- I do hope you are sucessful
Karen

Invasion

In cases where the need for BB is because of mobility the same criteria as that of Higher rate mobility apply- i.e not being able to walk further than (approx) 50 metres taking into consideration gait, time taken, pain etc. Some councils will ONLY let you have a badge if you meet automatic criteria- i.e highest rate mobility, others will. Worth trying to apply

cabbage

Hi

Blue badges are handed out by social services. IIf you get high rate mobility you are automatically accepted. If not, you can still apply but its done discretionary and as I understand it, the success rate will depend on the condition and what your gp puts on the form. If you have a sympathetic gp you are likely to be accepted.

Get the form and then book in to see your gp to discuss it.

Good luck

jazabelle

Just to add it might not always be social services, mine was done by the county council - so may depend on your area. I just googled blue badge Essex and found the place to apply for.

Invasion

It has nothing to do with SS, it's council-run, with a department that deals with BB claims.

kazzah60

as I understand it, the success rate will depend on the condition and what your gp puts on the form. If you have a sympathetic gp you are likely to be accepted.

where I live the council no longer asks GP's to complete forms as the GP's reported they felt under pressure to sign the forms for patients even when they disagreed with them having a BB
now you can only get one under discretionary rules after an interview with the manager of the blue badge scheme

this is one of the reasons it is hard to give out generalised advice about the issuing of badges, as each are is likely to have different criteria and rules

jazabelle

Ugh, how annoying. So they judge you based on ONE meeting. I know there will always be people that abuse the system, but a lot of illnesses and conditions and invisible, and it's kind of discriminating against them.

Invasion

Jaz, you can ask for an OT assessment by the BB people too, though it's not independant unfortunately.

jazabelle

It's okay I have a blue badge, I was just whinging on behalf of those who don't!