blue badge renewal

bobbyblade

my wife has had a blue badge for several years and renewed it successfully once this time it has been declined as my wife is on middle mobility and there is not enough evidence to support her claim, she enclosed letters which stated to what level her disability is and a full list of medications for pain relief but they took these into consideration but still refused her application.
after a written letter of appeal she now has to go for a medical , what can she expect while there .

nannytone_2

there is no middke rate mobility, its either low or high?

Richie-from-the-Boro

She will be assessed by an independent mobility assessor usually an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who has never treated your wife before.

Walking

Her walking ability will be assessed, generally only if she you (1) can walk only with great difficulty, and (2) at an extremely slow pace or (3) with excessive pain. No other factors, such as how difficult you find it to carry objects, will be taken into account. Her (4) difficulties must be permanent and not temporary. For example, if you have a broken leg, you can’t apply for a blue badge.

Upper limb

If she has severe upper limb disabilities, she is are eligible for a blue badge if she:

- drives a vehicle regularly
- she has a severe disability in both arms
- she is unable or would find it very difficult to use a parking - meter.
- she is not eligible for a blue badge if she has severe upper limb disabilities and only travel as a passenger.

Local authorities treat applications from people with severe upper limb disabilities as a special case. This means that before making a decision, they might:

- interview her
- inspect her vehicle
- check her insurance documents which state that she drives an adapted vehicle

Trans from CAB

bobbyblade

sorry about the mistake she is on lower rate mobility !!!

HB58

The blue badge rules have been tightened up and should now be consistent in every part of the country. Your wife will not be eligible for a blue badge unless she meets at least one of the criteria outlined in post #3.

MARKZ123

I have a new blue badge and i have never claimed DLA and never will, i told the local council this, they checked with my physio / gp and a new badge was issued along with a bus pass.... i can walk with pain as i have HMS

our council had a procedure in place for people that dont claim DLA

bobbyblade

my wife suffers from osteo arthritis can only walk with aid of a crutch and suffers from bad bouts of fibromyalgia which leaves her with little or no energy , she also has mental health issues which makes travelling on public transport at times almost impossible all of her conditions are in her medical notes .

Parva

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

She will be assessed by an independent mobility assessor usually an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who has never treated your wife before.

Walking

Her walking ability will be assessed, generally only if she you (1) can walk only with great difficulty, and (2) at an extremely slow pace or (3) with excessive pain. No other factors, such as how difficult you find it to carry objects, will be taken into account. Her (4) difficulties must be permanent and not temporary. For example, if you have a broken leg, you can’t apply for a blue badge.

Upper limb

If she has severe upper limb disabilities, she is are eligible for a blue badge if she:

- drives a vehicle regularly
- she has a severe disability in both arms
- she is unable or would find it very difficult to use a parking - meter.
- she is not eligible for a blue badge if she has severe upper limb disabilities and only travel as a passenger.

Local authorities treat applications from people with severe upper limb disabilities as a special case. This means that before making a decision, they might:

- interview her
- inspect her vehicle
- check her insurance documents which state that she drives an adapted vehicle

Trans from CAB

This is pretty much spot on. I lost a leg due to cancer (I mean a whole leg and much of the hip) and applied for a blue badge prior to being award HRM / HRC DLA. I had to attend an appointment where I was assessed and awarded my blue badge due to not having the DLA entitlement at that time but obviously having the problems required to qualify for a blue badge.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Parva wrote: »

This is pretty much spot on. I lost a leg due to cancer (I mean a whole leg and much of the hip) and applied for a blue badge prior to being award HRM / HRC DLA. I had to attend an appointment where I was assessed and awarded my blue badge due to not having the DLA entitlement at that time but obviously having the problems required to qualify for a blue badge.

HiYa Parva - yes many people think the only way to a blue badge is DLAHRM or equivalent whereas in truth anyone passing the 'walking or UL test' will be entitled. Its true that the test are harder, but you know that's not unreasonable, the previous blue badge award like the DLAHRM award was essentially 'self certified' and wide open to an estimated 20% of all blue badges being misused. These people stoop so low to con a few hours of free parking, including using a dead relative's blue badge or leaving a disabled parent trapped in their home. The results since BBIS was introduced there have been 700 checks carried out in four months, double the previous rate.. You are right the deserving will pass the 'subject to further assessment' test - and the benefits it brings is colossal. Best of luck Parva.

NOTE to others : Apply 6-8 weeks before the badge is due and you will never be tempted to use the badge when the renewal is out of date beyond the statutory two weeks allowance for expired badges.

Parva

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

NOTE to others : Apply 6-8 weeks before the badge is due and you will never be tempted to use the badge when the renewal is out of date beyond the statutory two weeks allowance for expired badges.

Ah, I'm glad you brought this up. My blue badge expires mid-January 2015. Now I was considering applying early (and even surrendering the current one and doing without for a couple of weeks if necessary) but on checking my local authority's website it appears that they will write to me inviting me to re-apply around 6 weeks before the current one expires.

Now I'm always a little worried about things like this actually going as they should but I guess I shall be awaiting and hoping for some contact in December. The question is that statutory 2 weeks grace period you mentioned, is this really the case across the UK? Hopefully I'll never need to find out but I would be very worried about using it beyond its stated expiry, especially in Leeds City centre where I go often, the wardens are like vultures!

Richie-from-the-Boro

Parva wrote: »

Ah, I'm glad you brought this up. My blue badge expires mid-January 2015. Now I was considering applying early (and even surrendering the current one and doing without for a couple of weeks if necessary) but on checking my local authority's website it appears that they will write to me inviting me to re-apply around 6 weeks before the current one expires.

Now I'm always a little worried about things like this actually going as they should but I guess I shall be awaiting and hoping for some contact in December. The question is that statutory 2 weeks grace period you mentioned, is this really the case across the UK? Hopefully I'll never need to find out but I would be very worried about using it beyond its stated expiry, especially in Leeds City centre where I go often, the wardens are like vultures!

Statutory applies to England - what the [localism politics] by-laws are in all English counties or other countries I've no idea. The 6 week warning may or may not be 'legacy' stuff still on the specific LA's website. I do know there is an 'early warning auto reminder' which is computer generated if you applied this year through the GOV portal, in which case you should never ever need to risk running one let alone fourteen days over.