Council refused to renew BB for a disabled 74 year old woman

Danday

Another Blue Badge query.

My wife has had her BB since August 2015. She does not receive PIP or DLA as being too old to apply. She however does receive Attendance Allowance for day and night care indefinitely and has done for the past six years since she was 68.

I completed the online renewal process as per the email the council had sent her back in June 18 and sent a scanned photo and two pieces of evidence (her AA current award notice and prescription list). The online system also asked for the reference number of her now expired BB (24/8/18).

The council then wrote back in early August telling her that she can't use the online version (so why tell her in the email that she could?) and she must now complete the full form describing her difficulties etc.

It took weeks to fill that form out when she first applied in 2015 as it is so intrusive.

Why does she have to go through the same thing again 3 years later as it is pretty obvious that her mobility issues are not going to get any better?

I have refused to play their game and told them to refer to the previous hand written claim form - 2015 as nothing has changed.

Yesterday I received another email from the council telling me that they are refusing her a BB. Are the council that stupid not to realise that a 74 year old woman with the problems she has that were evidenced in 2015 are not of the type that will miraculously disappear and that she can now run around like a spring chicken? Grief she is crippled from the hips down!

It is not clear where I go from here - is there an appeal system (nothing in their email says so)?
I will fight this even if it takes the next 10 years to get her BB back.

Flugelhorn

I have known several people who have had the BB declined when they reapplied - they just didn't give sufficient evidence of what their mobility was like now. They appealed (with some help) and got the BB.

How to appeal:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/help-for-disabled-travellers1/blue-badge-scheme/if-youve-been-refused-a-blue-badge/

elsien

The quickest and easiest way to go from here would be to fill out the full form as requested.

AA doesn't include a mobility component and isn't a qualifying benefit which is probably why they haven't accepted it. Some people's mobility problems do get better, that's why the award is not indefinite. That may not be the case for your wife but it is for other people.

Yes these forms are intrusive, as are the DLA/PIP ones but if you want the BB that's what you need to do. Do you have a copy of the earlier one that you could just copy across?

Your title would be more accurate if it said "Council refused to renew BB for a disabled 74 year old woman because her partner declined to fully complete the application."

sheramber

They have refused the BB as you have not provided evidence that she needs one. Any appeal would have to provide that information, best done by filling out the form.

So, no need for an appeal. Just fill out the form.

Danday

elsien wrote: »

The quickest and easiest way to go from here would be to fill out the full form as requested.

AA doesn't include a mobility component and isn't a qualifying benefit which is probably why they haven't accepted it. Some people's mobility problems do get better, that's why the award is not indefinite. That may not be the case for your wife but it is for other people.

Yes these forms are intrusive, as are the DLA/PIP ones but if you want the BB that's what you need to do. Do you have a copy of the earlier one that you could just copy across?

Your title would be more accurate if it said "Council refused to renew BB for a disabled 74 year old woman because her partner declined to fully complete the application."

Thank you I am fully aware that some issues do resolve themselves but having arthritis in her fingers, hands, wrists neck, hips, knees and feet (which were all evidenced 3 years ago) will not magically disappear. In fact it wil only get worse and her joints become more swollen.

She is not claiming PIP or DLA, she is asking for a BB as a reasonable adjustment so that she has a better quality of life.

No there is no copy, it was all carried out online. And besides which the online version asked no questions about her disabilities - it just asked if there were any changes to her health since the 2015 application to which I said no.


I have no objections if they had simply asked her to have a full mobility assessment before making a decision. I even made a point on the renewal that the council should obtain a copy of their Social Services assessment report which clearly identified difficulties in getting around indoors never mind outside.

Surely this is no different to someone who is claiming the mobilitty element of PIP or DLA and their walking improves but just because they have an long term/indefinite award no questions are asked by the council - they just re-award the BB.

custardy

Danday wrote: »

Another Blue Badge query.

My wife has had her BB since August 2015. She does not receive PIP or DLA as being too old to apply. She however does receive Attendance Allowance for day and night care indefinitely and has done for the past six years since she was 68.

I completed the online renewal process as per the email the council had sent her back in June 18 and sent a scanned photo and two pieces of evidence (her AA current award notice and prescription list). The online system also asked for the reference number of her now expired BB (24/8/18).

The council then wrote back in early August telling her that she can't use the online version (so why tell her in the email that she could?) and she must now complete the full form describing her difficulties etc.

It took weeks to fill that form out when she first applied in 2015 as it is so intrusive.

Why does she have to go through the same thing again 3 years later as it is pretty obvious that her mobility issues are not going to get any better?

I have refused to play their game and told them to refer to the previous hand written claim form - 2015 as nothing has changed.

Yesterday I received another email from the council telling me that they are refusing her a BB. Are the council that stupid not to realise that a 74 year old woman with the problems she has that were evidenced in 2015 are not of the type that will miraculously disappear and that she can now run around like a spring chicken? Grief she is crippled from the hips down!

It is not clear where I go from here - is there an appeal system (nothing in their email says so)?
I will fight this even if it takes the next 10 years to get her BB back.

Cant think why they refused to renew.....

elsien

Danday wrote: »

Thank you I am fully aware that some issues do resolve themselves but having arthritis in her fingers, hands, wrists neck, hips, knees and feet (which were all evidenced 3 years ago) will not magically disappear. In fact it wil only get worse and her joints become more swollen.

She is not claiming PIP or DLA, she is asking for a BB as a reasonable adjustment so that she has a better quality of life.

No there is no copy, it was all carried out online. And besides which the online version asked no questions about her disabilities - it just asked if there were any changes to her health since the 2015 application to which I said no.


I have no objections if they had simply asked her to have a full mobility assessment before making a decision. I even made a point on the renewal that the council should obtain a copy of their Social Services assessment report which clearly identified difficulties in getting around indoors never mind outside.

Surely this is no different to someone who is claiming the mobilitty element of PIP or DLA and their walking improves but just because they have an long term/indefinite award no questions are asked by the council - they just re-award the BB.

Danday wrote: »

Another Blue Badge query.

My wife has had her BB since August 2015. She does not receive PIP or DLA as being too old to apply. She however does receive Attendance Allowance for day and night care indefinitely and has done for the past six years since she was 68.

I completed the online renewal process as per the email the council had sent her back in June 18 and sent a scanned photo and two pieces of evidence (her AA current award notice and prescription list). The online system also asked for the reference number of her now expired BB (24/8/18).

The council then wrote back in early August telling her that she can't use the online version (so why tell her in the email that she could?) and she must now complete the full form describing her difficulties etc.

It took weeks to fill that form out when she first applied in 2015 as it is so intrusive.

Why does she have to go through the same thing again 3 years later as it is pretty obvious that her mobility issues are not going to get any better?

I have refused to play their game and told them to refer to the previous hand written claim form - 2015 as nothing has changed.

Yesterday I received another email from the council telling me that they are refusing her a BB. Are the council that stupid not to realise that a 74 year old woman with the problems she has that were evidenced in 2015 are not of the type that will miraculously disappear and that she can now run around like a spring chicken? Grief she is crippled from the hips down!

It is not clear where I go from here - is there an appeal system (nothing in their email says so)?
I will fight this even if it takes the next 10 years to get her BB back.

According to your posts the initial form was hand written, which is the one I was referring to when I asked if you had a copy.

And it is not the council's role to go looking for evidence, it is for the applicant to supply it.
If you'd rather rant on here about inequity that's up to you. It'd still be quicker just to fill the form in.

What does your wife think about your stance, given that she's the one most affected by it?

w06

If you refuse to follow the application procedure it's only to be expected that the council don't award the thing that you've refused to apply for

poppy12345

I'm not surprised they refused since you refused to do what they asked. Not sure what else you expect as the evidence you sent was the AA award, which doesn't automatically qualify anyone for a BB. Oh, and a prescription list.....

NeilCr

poppy12345 wrote: »

I'm not surprised they refused since you refused to do what they asked. Not sure what else you expect as the evidence you sent was the AA award, which doesn't automatically qualify anyone for a BB. Oh, and a prescription list.....

Indeed. It does make you question the motives of someone who is prepared to leave his wife without a BB for ten years while he battles the "injustice" when she may well get one in a few weeks if he follows the correct procedure.

Danday

sheramber wrote: »

They have refused the BB as you have not provided evidence that she needs one. Any appeal would have to provide that information, best done by filling out the form.

So, no need for an appeal. Just fill out the form.

Which means a further 8/10weeks delay as they have now cancelled the previous online application.
There is no 'other form' to fill out, I have to down load the document and start again from the beginning and when submitted it will be put at the back of the queue.

It would have been helpful in the first place if when I received the first email it was made clear that I should not follow the link to the online application but to the website to find the full application.