Blue Badge Application ID Requirements

tomtom256

Erm I did my renewal online last October.

Photocopied Council Tax Bill and Utility Bill, applied online and got the new one a week later. Weren't too many pages on the online version so have no idea what your on about.

If anything it was easier to renew this time round then when I first applied.

I also do no have a passport so wouldn't be able to provide a copy of that, as I am sure several other like minded people don't so not sure what would happen.

For ID I thought they asked for one form with name and address and two others, but can't remember. I also didn't need to prove my DLA award as they checked electronicaly.

pauliboo

I had problems applying for by free bus pass. They wanted as you stated a recent copy of my DLA Award letter - mine was dated 2007 and they wouldn't accept this.
However they would accept a copy of my Blue Badge, even though I used the same award letter 6 months earlier to obtain that.

It makes the process a lot easier if you can get to your local library and link-up to the Council's team - they scan your documents and take your photo there so no other problems.

missile

tomtom256 wrote: »

Erm I did my renewal online last October.
.... Weren't too many pages on the online version so have no idea what your on about..

As I have already said it may vary depending on which council, maybe your bend the rules? I have checked three and the online form and the system is identical. Each council has it's own version of the paper form my council has an 18 page application form and insist on the documents I have listed. If I lived in East Sussex, the document is only 10 pages and they require the same documents.

As you say the online form is simpler . However, even if you submit a digital photo one still has to provide the following documents. Some councils allow you to present documents and they take copies. My council require certified copies as they will not return the original. This is copied from the online application procedure and common to all councils:

DocumentsRequired YesConsent To Check LA Council Tax DatabaseYesPassportYesA letter of entitlement for the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance issued within the last 12 months or your original annual uprating letter. Please supply the original.

missile

pauliboo wrote: »

I had problems applying for by free bus pass. They wanted as you stated a recent copy of my DLA Award letter - mine was dated 2007 and they wouldn't accept this.
However they would accept a copy of my Blue Badge, even though I used the same award letter 6 months earlier to obtain that.

It makes the process a lot easier if you can get to your local library and link-up to the Council's team - they scan your documents and take your photo there so no other problems.

That is a good suggestion, wish I had known that. I wonder how they get round the requirement for the copies to be endorsed by a suitable person who has known you for a minimum of two years?

IMHO the application system appears to have been designed by a committee to keep pen pushers in a job. I am sure we could devise a more "customer" friendly system with better security to prevent fraud. :j

Richie-from-the-Boro

missile wrote: »

You are incorrect and please stick to the subject or post you own thread :T

- its a public forum, I'll post where I like
- I am .. .. on subject LA's were given the right per the 'localism bill'
- millions have a Blue Badge, and are entitled to hear both points of view
- the re-application [without further assessment] is all bog standard stuff as far as I can see

This has been around, common knowledge, consulted and commented on on by all major players for more than two years, and has been widely debated in this very forum for 18 months or more.

Role of central Government - The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for the legislation that sets out the framework for the scheme.

Role of local authorities - Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the
scheme.

They are responsible for determining and implementing administrative, assessment and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation. Whatever the local arrangements, it is important that there is effective communication between the teams that issue Blue Badges and those that conduct on-street enforcement. It is the responsibility of each local authority to ensure that badges are only issued to residents who satisfy one or more of the eligibility criteria set out in the legislation that governs the scheme.

Under no circumstances should anyone who does not satisfy at least one of the criteria receive a badge. All members of staff who deal regularly with applicants and badge holders should be included in the local authority's Disability and Equality Awareness training programme. Such training will help staff to understand the importance of the scheme to those who may rely upon it to access goods and services.

- so far then as already stated nothing has changed other than the NI number and the driving licence number

You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not please all of the people all of the time, it seems to me that the requirement to make it fair and consistent in their treatment of Blue Badge applicants / customer-friendly and clear / timely and cost-efficient / and resistant to abuse seems to have been met. But it won't please every one in these Islands, and I accept you are one of the displeased.

nogginthenog

fed_up_and_stressed

Wow even more fed up now ! My local council wouldn't accept my council tax bill off themselves as it is over 3 months old ...ermm yes they send out bills annually !!

Also ive had a wasted journey up there to the parking services branch as they want a letter to prove my DLA and wont accept my indefinite award letter because it is over 12 months old and insisted on a new one

However mulling this over they insist on a new letter to prove my entitlement which I have duly got and will take to them shortly however as I am having to get this myself why do they then also ask for my NI number as part of the process if as they state "they need a letter to prove my entitlemnt to DLA as they (the council )cant check it themselves??

Richie-from-the-Boro

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Wow even more fed up now ! My local council wouldn't accept my council tax bill off themselves as it is over 3 months old ...ermm yes they send out bills annually !!

Also I've had a wasted journey up there to the parking services branch as they want a letter to prove my DLA and wont accept my indefinite award letter because it is over 12 months old and insisted on a new one

However mulling this over they insist on a new letter to prove my entitlement which I have duly got and will take to them shortly however as I am having to get this myself why do they then also ask for my NI number as part of the process if as they state "they need a letter to prove my entitlement to DLA as they (the council )cant check it themselves??

- no one, no one at all can check your DLA entitlement other than the DWP, that's a very good thing, its a very private matter
- the inadmissibility of DLA award documents older than 52+ weeks seems to be widely used under the new criteria

- council tax over 3 months old sounds ridiculous, 52+ weeks I can accept, I thought all LA's issued annual bills in April
- someone in the jobsworth office not quite understanding the new rules may have been a bit over-zealous on this

- NI number as part of the process, is a 'new requirement' as stated in #6 above

Fed up and stressed, do you have a driving license and did they ask for your 'driving licence number', as stated in #6 above ?

fed_up_and_stressed

I even offered to ring the DWP there and then so they can check my entitlement .. My point is though if they aren't using my NI number to check the DLA entitlement what do they need it for ?

And yes I pointed out that the Council tax bills are sent in April great when my blue badge runs out in March ... They have taken a copy of my drivers licence already towards the application (they will accept this as proof I match my photo but State I need additional proof of residency) -madness when the driving licence has your address on it and it is a legal requirement to update it ... anyway and have finally agreed to accept the letter from the DLA confirming my entitlement i asked them to send last week as proof of residency at this address. Good job the DLA form doesnt measure how many hoops disabled people have to jump through snort !!!

Richie-from-the-Boro

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

I even offered to ring the DWP there and then so they can check my entitlement .. My point is though if they aren't using my NI number to check the DLA entitlement what do they need it for ?

And yes I pointed out that the Council tax bills are sent in April great when my blue badge runs out in March ... They have taken a copy of my drivers licence already towards the application (they will accept this as proof I match my photo but State I need additional proof of residency) - madness when the driving licence has your address on it and it is a legal requirement to update it ... anyway and have finally agreed to accept the letter from the DLA confirming my entitlement I asked them to send last week as proof of residency at this address. Good job the DLA form doesn't measure how many hoops disabled people have to jump through snort !!!

- they [photocards] change this Saturday to a new format, old ones are still valid, updating as and when they reach term
- they are as far as I'm aware not compulsory till 2015, they like your paper licence contain other cross-checking information
- such as - name / DOB & country of birth / to & from dates / issuing authority / address / signature / etc
- the driving license is a 10 year replacement, meaning the photograph is 9.9 years out of date anyway, but ;

I can see why they use a photocard licence as the only available like with like facial verification for a blue badge, additionally the police and other agencies such as Blue Badge Enforcement have an instant comparison with a hand held device that can cross check NI, DOB address etc for an on the spot prosecution, or a Blue Badge seizure etc. It would also instantly stop disqualified drivers and driver impersonation.

I don't understand, other than lack of good training why the nice jobsworth in 'parking services' didn't realise proof of both age and proof of address can be found on the driving licence, unless yours is an old issue and you have moved since issuing.