Arthritis & Blue Badge Disabled Pass

dollydoodah

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help, please.

My mum has just had a knee-replacement operation - her second in 3 years. When she had her first one done, she got a blue disabled badge which had just expired before she had surgery. She applied for renewal, as she is in the same situation again and has been rejected on the grounds that it is not a permanent disability.

Although her walking is badly affected, it is more to do with the opening of the car doors as she has to 'swing' her leg in, so parking in a normal sized space is impossible for her.

Anyway, whilst having the op and doing various tests, her surgeon has told her that she has rheumatoid arthritis as opposed to osteo-arthritis which she thought she had, and is now on a variety of different medications.

I have been told that rheumatoid arthritis automatically entitles you to a blue badge but can't find anything about it. Would anybody happen to know if this is the case? She won't be claiming any benefits as she is due to retire next month and will get a good pension.

Thanks to anyone who replies.

jobbingmusician

As I understand it, rheumatoid arthritis does NOT automatically entitle you to a blue badge (sorry for the bad news!)

I suspect it may benefit you (her) to do some very rapid homework. THis is because in many areas (and I think it varies from council to council) you cannot get a blue badge unless you are on the highest rate of DLA. And form my rusty knowledge of benefits, either you cannot get the highest rate once you are retired or it is very much more difficult to get. So if your mum wants to go down this route, she should get things moving quickly before she retires! (Getting a blue badge is more difficult than it used to be....)

However, although I am sure my reply is correct in essence, some of the details above are likely to be wrong, so hopefully someone a bit more up to date in their knowledge will be along shortly. Good luck with this!

andyrules

Hi
My mum was turned down for a bb initially, we applied as she has a spinal condition. We re-applied (I rang the department explaining her difficulties) and she was successful.

She would be certainly be completely dependent and virtually house-bound without it. I'm sure that phoning rather than filling in a form helped, I think it's the Care Support Service or something.

Good luck.

nearlyrich

My mum is in her mid 70's just got a badge, she has Rhumatoid Arthitis amongs other things. Local Authority issues the badge with a note from the doctor, she didn't have to have a medical. I think the age limit is on the mobility allowance (probably called something else now) not the actual badge.

I have learnt over the past few weeks if she needs anything and you hit obstacles just keep pushing. Good Luck.

dollydoodah

Thanks very much to all of you. I will give the department a call this week and see what they say - trouble is, it seems to depend on who you speak to as to how much help they actually help. The daft thing is, her first operation wasn't really a success - although it removed the pain to an extent she still has very limited bend in her knee, hence the need to have the doors wide open to get in and out. In essence it is a permanent disability although it is not classified as such. It is all so confusing.

Thanks all again.
x

andyrules

Hi Dolly
I know what you mean about depending on whom you speak to, it did seem like that in our case, so keep pushing!

Meanwhile, could your mum make use of the parent and toddler spaces so she gets the room she needs to get in and out of the car? Having that extra space does make a big difference, I understand that. I don't think it would contravene any parking regulation, but I'm sure someone on here can confirm that one way or another. As for anyone commenting - they would only have to watch your mum struggle to see her predicament. My kids are older now, but I know that when they were small it was far easier to slot them into a narrow space than it would be for my mum to negotiate it in her condition.

Good luck.

lisyloo

could your mum make use of the parent and toddler spaces so she gets the room she needs to get in and out of the car?

I'm sure she would be OK using these but these only tend to be available in supermarkets.
I've never seen any in a town center for example.

I thikn the advice on here is right.
You need to keep pushing until you get to speak to the right person.
It's a shame but that's the way it seems to be with lots of things these days.

I'm sure if you push you will acheive what she needs, after all she's a genuine case.

welshcakes

Rather a wicked thought but wouldn't it be enlightening for all the rule and decision makers to be afflicted for 24 hours with the restrictions that govern those in pain or mobility/mental health problems!

Sarahpuggy

does anyone know if asthma entitles you to a blue badge?

welshcakes

Sarahpuggy wrote:

does anyone know if asthma entitles you to a blue badge?

I only know of one application and it was turned down. Many people have varying degrees of asthma however it doesn't apear to justify a blue badge and IMO this is reasonable given that it is a condition that, in the absence of other conditions, does not represent significant restriction to mobility and that's the basis for blue badge - offering preferential parking assistance for those who would be unable to manage without such.

amanda40

My mum got a new knee 2 years ago, she had a bb whilst waiting for her operation, but it was for 1 year only. Her operation was not a great success and she has nerve damage and is still in pain. She re=applied for her badge and now has it for a further 3 years. She had to go to the dept to see someone after submitting her form, but got it no problem once they seen her.

Good Luck. (she doesn't have DLA by the way)