Blue Badge - New Rules

Saversue

This may be old news, but I didn't know anything about it until today.

I rang up my local council to ask them when I could renew my Blue Badge, due in April and was told the regulations have all changed.

The Badge can no longer be renewed on-the -spot at the Local One Stop Shop (council offices) but have to be sent away to be processed.
This means app 7 days without a badge and a new fee of £10, previously £2.00.
I was advised to check when the Bank Holidays are for Easter as this will mean it takes even longer

Also I am registered with the Council as in need of a Blue Badge for Life after attending a Council organized Medical, but this no longer applies!
Has anyone else come across this?

Proof of HRM DLA is needed regardless.
I have an Indefinite DLA award, so it's not a problem (until that too changes) but didn't know if this information might be useful to anyone else.

wolfehouse

blue badge rules are different at each council.
my council now charges £20 for a 3 year badge but are bringing in
OT assessments (in person) for blue badges soon.
anyway when dla changes to pip blue badges could no longer be 'automatic' to coincide with high rate dla...

Richie-from-the-Boro

- see #43 about a year ago, and many dozens of other posts since on the subject.
- any questions ....... ask.

Richie-from-the-Boro

wolfehouse wrote: »

blue badge rules are different at each council.
my council now charges £20 for a 3 year badge but are bringing in
OT assessments (in person) for blue badges soon.
anyway when dla changes to pip blue badges could no longer be 'automatic' to coincide with high rate dla...

- I take it you are in Scotland, are you ?
- £10 for the rest of the UK.

Saversue

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- see #43 about a year ago, and many dozens of other posts since on the subject.
- any questions ....... ask.

Thanks for the information.

As I have no idea how to send them my photo for an online application, think I will just have to use the old fashioned method and be without my Blue Badge for a week or so. Also only gives the option of main council offices, non of the outreach.
Online form is asking for NI number as well as Driving License number and car registration. are all these needed if apply at Council?
Seems like a lot of private information to be giving for security reasons.
Also can't see a way of letting them know I have a lifelong local authority medical in-place.

pstuart

My council (North West) is charging £10 and using the same form as the online one, so car reg. etc..

Richie-from-the-Boro

Saversue wrote: »

Thanks for the information.

As I have no idea how to send them my photo for an online application, think I will just have to use the old fashioned method and be without my Blue Badge for a week or so. Also only gives the option of main council offices, non of the outreach.
Online form is asking for NI number as well as Driving License number and car registration. are all these needed if apply at Council?
Seems like a lot of private information to be giving for security reasons.
Also can't see a way of letting them know I have a lifelong local authority medical in-place.

Without Further Assessment - see Section 2 With Further Assessment - see section 3

- from 1 January 2012 the whole scheme changed so the old 'lifelong' no longer means anything
- all applicants who are not DLAHRC will usually need to have their mobility 'tested' by a Physiotherapists / Occupational Therapist - see Table 5-3:
- all new & renewals will need to supply National Insurance Number /Child Registration Number
- and both your driving licence number and in the case of renewals your old / current badge serial number
- they also access council tax database or school records if you are too young to pay council tax

Saversue, as regards the photo [now digitally scanned into a puter] I've no idea how your local area does it, some even have online webcam facilities for taking photographs 'live' whilst making the application. If your stuck let me know your local council and I'll have a look for you, and yes its all centralised so outreach opportunities I assume will be closed down as regards BB applications and all discretionary options will close with them.

Brassedoff

Saversue wrote: »

Thanks for the information.

As I have no idea how to send them my photo for an online application, think I will just have to use the old fashioned method and be without my Blue Badge for a week or so. Also only gives the option of main council offices, non of the outreach.
Online form is asking for NI number as well as Driving License number and car registration. are all these needed if apply at Council?
Seems like a lot of private information to be giving for security reasons.
Also can't see a way of letting them know I have a lifelong local authority medical in-place.

I filled an application a few weeks before mine ran out in February, so if we are all on the same system why can you not do that? I had to send a normal photo in too. I had to provide the information as you say, but never needed to go without for a few weeks.

By the way, the new badges are quite good and must be difficult to forge, about 40% bigger too. I personally cannot wait for the connection between HRM and a blue badge to be broken. Far too many people with two legs that are perfectly normal in operation have one stopping those who cannot walk from leading the same life as everyone else.

akabee

Brassedoff wrote: »

Far too many people with two legs that are perfectly normal in operation have one stopping those who cannot walk from leading the same life as everyone else.

What about the people with two legs that are perfectly normal in operation but have a heart condition and back problems?

Twiglet0309

When renewing my Mothers blue badge we were told she would have to have another Medical Examination despite the fact she is registered as a multiple amputee.
I guess they need to check and see if her legs have grown back!!!!

Parva

I had to go for an interview and short 'test' when I applied for my nlue badge from Leeds City Council. I was actually made to hobble out of the office and on seeing my pain as I got outside of the office door she decided to turn me around and return to the office rather than have me 'walk' down the hall.

She said that I would receive a letter telling me whether I was worthy of this blue badge. I received an email that same day telling me that I had qualified. The irony is that I'm a recent amputee, my whole right leg and a good chunk of my thigh / backside too.

I'm still not sure whether she thought that I was hiding the missing leg or something....