Blue Badge Parking - HELP!

Tongue

Hi all

Can anyone shed any light on the correct way to get a Blue Badge for an elderly person who has problems walking without getting out of breath, has a heart pacemaker fitted, has arthritis in the knees and also suffers from two hernias please?

I've seen some people use these Blue Badges and park up on double yellows and get out of the car and walk better than me and I'm nowhere near retirement age!

Thanks

p.s. on the application form are there any specific words this elderly person should be including to substantiate their claim?

nearlyrich

I think your second paragraph was uncalled for, some people have good days and bad days, and no-one knows how someone else is suffering on a particular day, not all blue badges are for inability to walk.
To answer your question you get the form from your local social services offices, the GP does a medical report and the form goes back to social services for a decision. We recently got one for my mum who has mobility problems and were pleasantly surprised how easy the process was compared to other dealings with the social services.

welshcakes

Tongue, if someone is in receipt of mobility DLA (think it may have to be medium or high) then they automatically qualify. If not, they have to have their application form rubber stamped by their gp.

Ring up your local council and ask for one to be sent out then fill in and take along to gp. As long as he approves it, the applicant then has to send in a £2 processing charge along with two passport photos which they have signed across the back (twice).

There is a common misconception with regard to 'healthy' people driving blue badge cars. I am a carer for my partner who is severely disabled. I can use the car (and blue badge privelage) when I am driving him OR even when he his not present but I am conducted business on his behalf for example when I go to pick up his prescriptions as I am seen to be purely a representative of the blue badge recipient. I would say though that I don't often do the latter unless it's in the city centre and the parking is horrendous; in this case it is justiofied as he can't be left alone for long periods and it is essential for his wellbeing that my time away from him is a short as possible.

Hope that helps.

Altarf

welshcakes wrote:

I can use the car (and blue badge privelage) ... even when he his not present but I am conducted business on his behalf for example when I go to pick up his prescriptions as I am seen to be purely a representative of the blue badge recipient.

Could you provide some evidence for this, as this does not appear to be allowed in the regulations.

welshcakes

Hi Altarf

I wouldn't have been aware of it from reading the 'literature' that came through with the badge and was happily unaware until I happened to be at our doctors surgery and it was the family gp that told me.

I was confused as well as it didn't seem right however the doctor was quite adamant that (not verbartim but the gist of what he said was..) that under circumstance of emergency that require a representative of the patient to acquire urgent medication and that if failing to do so would present a life threatening situation, then the blue badge can be permitted to be used to facilitate this where no other option is available.

Edit - the regs also state in one part that the disabled person has to be present however they go on to say that it can be utilised when the driver is parking to pick up that person (ie at time of parking, the disabled person has not been part of the outward journey or present at the timing of and for most of the time that the vehicle is parked).

Taloola78

Iwould like to add to this too as at Christmas time I had an incident regarding the blue badge in my car.
Carer's are also allowed to park and use the badge if they are intending to pick up the disabled person.
I went to pick up my mum at Tesco's and got a load of verbal from some elderly (ahem) gent because I was able to manage in and out the car and according to him, looked F***ing fine, why did I need a blue badge. I ignored him at first but this seemed to annoy him more and he was shouting and swearing. I was really embarassed but was not about to start justifying myself in the car park and folk had started to look and were no doubt agreeing with him.
I went in and got my mum and when I came back he was gone (thankfully) but I really do wish people would think before they open their mouths and remember that not everything is black and white.

peter999

Taloola78 wrote:

....and got a load of verbal from some elderly (ahem) gent because I was able to manage in and out the car and according to him, looked F***ing fine, why did I need a blue badge. I ignored him at first but this seemed to annoy him more and he was shouting and swearing.

...but I really do wish people would think before they open their mouths and remember that not everything is black and white.

You should have wallopped him !!

'Half' of disabled badges illegal:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6160588.stm

I think there is a lot of abuse.
But equally it's unfortunate that any genuine users can be persecuted, with any Tom, !!!!!! & Harry thinking they have a right to pass judgement.

This is the the result of overzealous parking enforcement & government policies to make money out of drivers.
Private companies are now trying to rake money in from parking schemes in private car parks -like supermarkets etc.
It's making people turn on each other.

It's all about making money & persecuting the motorist.

peter999

Morglin

You are not supposed to ever use a BB, unless the disabled person is in the car - I think someone is getting confused with the fact that a car supplied through Motability can be used occasionally by someone able bodied, if it is for purposes to assist the disabled person., which could be for prescriptions etc.,

You are really not supposed to use a BB if the disabled person is not getting out of the car (at a shop, for example). The rules are very strict, although enforcement seems very lax.

Anyone in receipt of High Rate Mobility component of DLA automatically qualifies for a BB, and also for a VED (which means that car tax is free - although, again, the car cannot be used unless the disabled person is in it).

Anyone else will need a form to be completed by their GP, and the local council will make a decision based on that - and local authorities vary wildly in this.

Some disabilities cannot always be "seen" and BB's are given for things other than lower limb non-use, so it's a little unfair making snap judgements on whether a person is "really" disabled.

Anyone holding a legitimate BB will have undergone an assessment, either through the GP or DLA, by the professionals who have access to the medical records, and be entitled to one.

Lin

welshcakes

If this is the case then there appear to be sub clauses in the regulations (which is available to view or download from internet) that needs to be amended. I have again today read through the full regulations schedule and there is a clause in the second half that I intepret as making provision for scenarios such as Taloola's. That said, I'll ring up and try and push for a definitive answer and post what I find out; the only problem with this being that depending on who you speak to, a different answer make be provided

Morglin

This is from the BB (DOT) website:

(http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_mobility/documents/page/dft_mobility_507582-07.hcsp#P139_13049)


15 Misuse of a Badge
Misuse of a Blue Badge is a serious offence:

Your badge can be withdrawn if you misuse it or allow others to misuse it.
It is a criminal offence for non-disabled people to use a badge. If they do so, they are liable to a fine of up to £1,000.

It is a criminal offence to drive a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge unless the badge holder is in the vehicle, or the vehicle is being driven by someone other than the badge holder for the purpose of entering or leaving an area (which is accessible only to vehicles displaying a Blue Badge) in order to pick up or drop off the holder.

Your duties as a Blue Badge holder

The purpose of the Scheme is to allow you to visit shops and other places. You must ensure that you use your badge with care and attention to the rules.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the badge is used properly. (It is in your own interest that the badge should retain the respect of other motorists. Please play your part.) You must not allow other people to use the badge for any journeys, unless you are present within the vehicle. (Allowing someone else to use your badge is a criminal offence. To reduce the risk of this happening accidentally, you should remove the badge whenever you are not using the parking concessions. You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car. You must ensure that the details on the front of the badge remain readable. If it becomes unreadable, the badge must be returned to the local authority for re-issue.
If you lose your badge or it is stolen, you should report the badge as missing to the police and your local authority.

16 Misuse of a Blue Badge

Misuse of a Blue Badge is a serious offence.

Your badge can be withdrawn if you misuse it or allow others to misuse it.
It is a criminal offence for non-disabled people to use a badge, unless they are driving a Blue Badge holder. If they do so, they are liable to a fine of up to £1,000.
It is a criminal offence to drive a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge unless the badge holder is in the vehicle, or the vehicle is being driven by someone other than the badge holder for the purpose of entering or leaving an area (which is accessible only to vehicles displaying a Blue Badge) in order to pick up or drop off the holder.

17 Misuse of a designated Blue Badge parking bay

Non-disabled people who park in a bay designated for Blue Badge holders are liable to receive a Penalty Charge Notice. These bays are specifically for the use of disabled people only.


If your circumstances change and you no longer need your badge, you must return it to the local authority.

If you change your address, you should notify your local authority so that they may amend their records.

Upon the death of a Blue Badge holder, the badge should be returned to the issuing local authority.

Lin

Sam_Spends_Too_Much

Anyone in receipt of High Rate Mobility component of DLA automatically qualifies for a BB, and also for a VED (which means that car tax is free - although, again, the car cannot be used unless the disabled person is in it.


I'm a little concerned about the above passage. My 6 yr old daughter has the higher rate mobility and as such I am able to get our car tax free. If I'm not supposed to use it without her in the car, what am I supposed to do when she is in school. The issuing office are aware of her age so one would assume they know she will not be in the car for 6 hours of every week day and furthermore that I would be using it without her. I'd appreciate any comments from someone in the same boat. Many thanks.