OT Assessment for Blue Badge

LadyMorticia

Hey everyone.:wave:

I have an OT assessment for a BB booked and I was just wondering what to expect really?

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

Ask for details of their professional body membership, their qualifications and their extent of knowledge and expertise about your disabling condition. For example how many years experience do they have in treating someone with what ever you have got that causes you difficulties.

If they have little or no bespoke knowlege make sure you note this down with their name in the event you may need to appeal against any rejection.

PlasticMoose

Hello,
When I had mine I had to go to my local council offices and I was with an assessor for about an hour. He was very thorough, and asked me to go into more detail than there was room for on the form. He asked me similar questions to those on the application form, but also asked some more questions about what I found difficult, how my condition affected my mobility and life in general. I was also asked to walk a little although he was clear that I should not do anything I found painful/uncomfortable and did stop me on one occasion when he could see I was in pain. At the end of the assessment I was given the notes that he had written to check over to see if I was happy with how he had noted down my answers, and if there was anything I wanted to add/amend.
If you have a good assessor, be prepared for it to take a while if you have complex/several conditions as they should be trying to take the opportunity to expand upon what you've written on your application form.
If you have any appointment letters/medical notes/medication etc, I'd say take it with you, as it can only help give them a picture of the issues that you face.

Good luck.

formaldehyde_perfume

I was worried when I had an OT assessment through social services, but my OT was/is great. Other people I've spoken to have always had good things to say about OT's in general.

I hope that the person assessing you is fully qualified, experienced and impartial (unlike the ATOS system) and if that is the case, there is nothing to worry about. Take someone with you, or if they are coming to you then make sure someone is always in the room with you when the OT is there. Don't let them rush you and make sure you feel you've explained how your condition affects your mobility, and not just at the time you intend to use the BB, also talk about the complete exhaustion and sickness that over exerting yourself causes for days after too.

dafyguy

Would it not be easier to apply for DLA High mobility?
Why would people want to put themselves through this test which seems to be the same as for DLA just to get a Blue Badge so that they can park their care?

If you have genuine mobility problems, then DLA should be the way to go.

Anubis_2

dafyguy wrote: »

Would it not be easier to apply for DLA High mobility?
Why would people want to put themselves through this test which seems to be the same as for DLA just to get a Blue Badge so that they can park their care?

If you have genuine mobility problems, then DLA should be the way to go.

Because DLA on it's own does not allow a person to park their car in a disabled space, and that need may be greater than the need for DLA at this moment, as it is a priority. The OP may also be getting DLA - the BB does not automatically come with DLA and some need assessments.

Additionally, DLA may be the way to go, but it doesn't mean someone will be awarded DLA, especially at the high rate. There are many having to fight for it, and it is only going to get harder when PIP is introduced.

PlasticMoose

I agree. I applied for my badge first because the need for that was far greater than for DLA at the time. I didn't even consider applying for DLA actually until some time after the money was less important than the help the badge would give me.

LadyMorticia

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I already get LRM and HRC DLA and I don't want to ask for a reconsideration because I am happy with the award I get. Even though I would probably qualify for HRM I don't want to "rock the boat" and I'm quite content with what I get anyway.

dafyguy

Anubis wrote: »

Because DLA on it's own does not allow a person to park their car in a disabled space, and that need may be greater than the need for DLA at this moment, as it is a priority. The OP may also be getting DLA - the BB does not automatically come with DLA and some need assessments.

Additionally, DLA may be the way to go, but it doesn't mean someone will be awarded DLA, especially at the high rate. There are many having to fight for it, and it is only going to get harder when PIP is introduced.

It does. DLA, higher rate mobility gives automatic right to a blue badge.

I can't understand this then. To get a blue badge (if you don't have DLA high mobility) you have to show that you either can't walk or are virtually unable to walk. This is the same as DLA high mobility.

Are you saying that you don't have to as bad to get a blue badge with the new tests as you do have to be to get DLA high mobility?

I thought that that was the idea to bring the requirements in line with each other.

You can't walk or be virtually unable to walk in different ways for the two schemes.

As for it being harder to get, I understood it that the assessment for a blue badge was to be made harder because of the past abuse of the system.

dafyguy

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I already get LRM and HRC DLA and I don't want to ask for a reconsideration because I am happy with the award I get. Even though I would probably qualify for HRM I don't want to "rock the boat" and I'm quite content with what I get anyway.

But if that is the case and you are now saying you are eligible for high mobility, isn't it a legal requirement that you must notify the DWP of any changes in your needs (care or/and mobility)? You surely can't just say I have mobility needs that should now qualify me for a blue badge as I can't walk or I am virtually unable to walk, yet not tell the DWP of them. Isn't that fraud?

That's what I have done. Not notified the DLA that my care needs have increased considerably as well as my mobility needs. Those changes took place in about 2005. Now I have all sorts of problems trying to explain why they weren't notified.

copy from the notification of change of needs form sent to the DLA

You have told us your condition has got
worse.

Tell us the exact date if you can. But if

you cannot remember, you

must tell us

roughly when this was.

If the date you have given is

more than

4 months ago,

please tell us why you did

not tell us sooner.

I did not tell you sooner because

I told them that I didn't bother to tell them. No doubt they don't believe me as nobody in their right mind would not tell them if things got worse which would mean more money.

LadyMorticia

dafyguy wrote: »

But if that is the case and you are now saying you are eligible for high mobility, isn't it a legal requirement that you must notify the DWP of any changes in your needs (care or/and mobility)? You surely can't just say I have mobility needs that should now qualify me for a blue badge as I can't walk or I am virtually unable to walk, yet not tell the DWP of them. Isn't that fraud?

That's what I have done. Not notified the DLA that my care needs have increased considerably as well as my mobility needs. Those changes took place in about 2005. Now I have all sorts of problems trying to explain why they weren't notified.

When I got in contact with the DLA department via email to ask about applying for HRM, the person said that it was up to me and it would only be compulsory to inform them if my health had got better, which it hasn't.

So, I was rest assured that if I didn't want to apply for HRM, then I didn't have to.