blue badge renewal

Richie-from-the-Boro

Ask first if your own particular LA have an appeals procedure in place, then if they do ask for a detailed SOR and ask for an appeal form I]not a review form[/I. Complete the appeal procedure carefully. You have no statutory right of appeal but the DOT do encourage LA's to have an appeals procedure in place. You will need to present with new evidence to stand any chance of overturning such a recent 'supervised walk test' but all avenues are worth an attempt. Best of luck margaretclare & Mr Clare.

margaretclare

Thank you for this, Richie. Yes, he was told in the email he got turning him down, that he could appeal.

What's SOR?

He has this habit of pushing through the pain, as he did when he was a young athlete, but then he suffers for it afterwards.

Richie-from-the-Boro

margaretclare wrote: »

Thank you for this, Richie. Yes, he was told in the email he got turning him down, that he could appeal.

What's SOR?

He has this habit of pushing through the pain, as he did when he was a young athlete, but then he suffers for it afterwards.

A SOR is a statement of reasons and should give you in detail the reason his application was refused. Knowing exactly what he failed on is the best tool you have to express any additional information that needs to be considered, or areas he feels were not adequately taken into consideration by the first O/T.

margaretclare

The email actually told him in detail. 'He was able to walk the required distance with a crutch, without being in enough pain or shortness of breath'.

It's the word 'enough' that seems to be the crux. How much is 'enough'? I don't think he was asked 'on a score of 1 to 10...' There was just an assumption made. And he doesn't get shortness of breath.

margaretclare

DH has now received an email saying he will be assessed again, by a different assessor. Date/venue still to be advised.

margaretclare

Update: DH goes for reassessment this coming Wednesday, same place, different assessor.

It has been explained what changes took place at Government level from 2012, GP is no longer involved i.e. you can't ask for a GP's letter as back-up.

The people who do the assessing are qualified to degree level in physio/rehab/OT.

DH went to see his orthopaedic consultant yesterday - they keep an eye on him because everyone is terrified of the recurrence of septicaemia from his frequently-replaced L knee. He also had X-ray of R hip, which has also been giving him trouble of late. R hip is now 'showing signs of wear'. Total hip replacement is not an option because of risk of recurring septicaemia. So that's something new to tell them.

I think he's been putting extra pressure on the R side to spare the L leg, and the spine, if that makes any sense.

So, we'll see what we shall see.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Thanks for the update margaretclare, the best of luck for the reassessment !

margaretclare

Thank you, Richie.

It's fortuitous that something 'new' has cropped up so recently, because it was implied that a reassessment on appeal would only be dealing with the situation and conditions as before.

Richie-from-the-Boro

margaretclare wrote: »

Thank you, Richie.

It's fortuitous that something 'new' has cropped up so recently, because it was implied that a reassessment on appeal would only be dealing with the situation and conditions as before.

In which case if the appeal process is unsuccessful, you can start a fresh application immediately including your new evidence to support the ' subject to further assessment ' criteria :

People who may be issued with a badge after further assessment are those who fall within one or more of the following descriptions:

 Drives a vehicle regularly, has a severe disability in both arms and is unable to operate, or has considerable difficulty in operating, all or some types of parking meter; or
 Has a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

margaretclare

Praise be! After his reassessment on Wednesday this week DH has just had an email saying he can have his blue badge. Send £10 and it will come through the post.

It is getting more and more difficult for him to walk, and if he does any walking, he suffers for it afterwards. It's not just 'seeing him walk' the required distance. Which he didn't do - he flatly refused, told the assessor he couldn't do it.

As the conditions changed in 2012 and the badges last for 3 years I would imagine, given what DH has just experienced, that there will be a lot fewer blue badges issued as every one comes up for re-assessment and not just an automatic renewal.