Blue Badge Assessment

Ames

It's quite obvious - they don't support automatic blue badges for people with dementia, but for those with dementia who would qualify for a blue badge for any reason they should be able to get one but can't because the system doesn't make allowances for dementia, such as the OP not being allowed to speak for her husband, they're being unfairly denied one.

retiredandskint

That's 'hit the nail on the head' Ames. I've spoken to the Memory Clinic today and they think, and yes I know it doesn't mean anything, that just by seeing him walk would be sufficient to see how unstable he is. If turned down they will help me appeal.

Thanks both RftB and Ames for your help in this.

billywilly

Ames wrote: »

It's quite obvious - they don't support automatic blue badges for people with dementia, but for those with dementia who would qualify for a blue badge for any reason they should be able to get one but can't because the system doesn't make allowances for dementia, such as the OP not being allowed to speak for her husband, they're being unfairly denied one.

Since when has a mental health condition (of which Dementia is one) been allowed to be a reason for a Blue Badge?
As far as I remember only physical conditions were entertained. Otherwise you would have every Tom !!!!!! and Harry claiming a BB because they suffer from stress, anxiety or depression to some extent or another.

billywilly

retiredandskint wrote: »

If turned down they will help me appeal.
.

There is no national appeal process for a failed BB application.
You can ask the LA to look at it again, but that's it.

Ames

The post you quoted doesn't say anything about mental illness. It says that someone who qualifies for a blue badge shouldn't be discriminated against in the application process because they have dementia.


But you can get a blue badge for mental illness. In Scotland and Wales you can get one if you get enhanced rate mobility PIP, which can be awarded for severe mental illness.

Richie-from-the-Boro

You are all off on a tangent as usual. I said and the Alzheimer's Society said """impaired mobility""" not any other of your usual wish list of personalised preferred 'other' reasons. Mental impairment, aggression, anxiety, tendency to wander, and confusion for example are not of itself a reason for a Blue badge. """impaired mobility""" as a result of those conditions is a reason.

Quite a clever way of dealing with the issue on the part of the Alzheimer's Society - fighting a battle you will never win is a waste of resource .. .. calling it an """impaired mobility""" issue was only ever going to be the one way of scoring enough points to earn a Blue Badge under the 'with further assessment' criteria.

retiredandskint

and my OH does have impaired mobility. He would have impaired mobility whether he had dementia or not. My point was that having dementia makes it awkward for him to answer questions without help or even understand the question completely which is why the Memory Clinic is offering help.

I'd would rather he was the 'normal' fit person he was two years ago than any BB.

elmer

I do BB assessments but in Scotland and I think the rules are slightly different to England, however I would be happy to have your assistance with your husband at the assessment as any clarification of his mobility makes an accurate assessment easier.

Im not sure if this helps but good luck

elmer

rogerblack

elmer wrote: »

I do BB assessments but in Scotland and I think the rules are slightly different to England, however I would be happy to have your assistance with your husband at the assessment as any clarification of his mobility makes an accurate assessment easier.

In scotland, the underlying legislation is different and much harsher.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=66384797&postcount=15

In short - for Scotland - if you are not passported into the benefit by DLA/PIP or some other route, in order to be entitled to a BB, the test was changed in 2011 from the same as the English "has a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking" to eliminate difficulty, and substitute "virtually unable to walk".

I do not know if in practice some Scottish councils are going beyond the law and using the looser English test.

The term 'virtually unable to walk' is not defined in the legislation, but it does not take the meaning from DLA.

billywilly

rogerblack wrote: »

In scotland, the underlying legislation is different and much harsher.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=66384797&postcount=15

In short - for Scotland - if you are not passported into the benefit by DLA/PIP or some other route, in order to be entitled to a BB, the test was changed in 2011 from the same as the English "has a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking" to eliminate difficulty, and substitute "virtually unable to walk".

I do not know if in practice some Scottish councils are going beyond the law and using the looser English test.

The term 'virtually unable to walk' is not defined in the legislation, but it does not take the meaning from DLA.

Isn't the easiest way to look at this is to use the 8pt descriptor of Getting Around under PIP?

Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. 8 points.