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

Danday

custardy wrote: »

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

To once again draw a comparison. Those with a suitable PIP/DLA mobility award would not be required to prove continued mobility issues. The council would for example accept an award that originated many years ago as sufficient proof.
However with my wife's case, she proved 3 years ago that she met the criteria but every 3 years she is expected to submit medical reports, OT reports, etc to prove continued difficulties.
Those reports will have to be within the past 12 months or later to have any value as proof. What the council is actually saying that she should prove entitlement every 3 years that on the day of application she met the criteria?

bspm1

Just a suggestion, have you thought of changing your name to 'self-righteous' or is it not available?

Danday

elsien wrote: »

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?

Yes the initial (first) claim made in 2015 was handwritten. No I didn't keep a copy there was no need to. Even if I had have kept a copy the contents of that form were only relevant as at August 2015 - three years have elapsed since then.
On both the online from AND the full paper one there is a section that asks if permission is given for the council to access the Social Services records. That box was ticked, but once again the involvement of SS was in late 2014 so that evidence could well be seen to be out of date if I follow the thinking of the council.

Danday

NeilCr wrote: »

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.

It's a point of principle. Someone could have improved walking ability and still be covered by an existing DLA/PIP award. Even someone that loses their mobility award say 3 months after the renewed BB is issued would be entitled to continually use that BB until it runs out in 33 months time even though they no longer have any difficuties with walking.
Someone without that award must prove continual difficulties every three years.

There are no 'few weeks' involved. A new claim on a hand written form with an updated photograph along with medical evidence and a current report from an OT whicI would have to obtained by her will sit in a queue of another 8/10 weeks before it gets looked at. The online application has already been cancelled.

Have you any idea how long it takes to get Social Services to do an assessment these days? - months.

NeilCr

Danday wrote: »

It's a point of principle. Someone could have improved walking ability and still be covered by an existing DLA/PIP award. Even someone that loses their mobility award say 3 months after the renewed BB is issued would be entitled to continually use that BB until it runs out in 33 months time even though they no longer have any difficuties with walking.
Someone without that award must prove continual difficulties every three years.

There are no 'few weeks' involved. A new claim on a hand written form with an updated photograph along with medical evidence and a current report from an OT which I would have to obtained by her will sit in a queue of another 8/10 weeks before it gets looked at. The online application has already been cancelled.

But a point of principle doesn't get your 76 year old wife the BB that you say she needs.

It's no skin off the council's nose if you decide not to follow the correct procedure for applying for a BB. It does, however, affect your wife. You have to fill in a form every three years. It's hardly an arduous task considering it will provide something important for her.

8/10 weeks is still a lot less than the 10 years you said you would "fight it". Had you got it right in the first place she may well have had her BB by now.

Still if you consider a point of principle more important than your wife then good luck to the pair of you.

Danday

NeilCr wrote: »

But a point of principle doesn't get your 76 year old wife the BB that you say she needs.

It's no skin off the council's nose if you decide not to follow the correct procedure for applying for a BB. It does, however, affect your wife. You have to fill in a form every three years. It's hardly an arduous task considering it will provide something important for her.

8/10 weeks is still a lot less than the 10 years you said you would "fight it". Had you got it right in the first place she may well have had her BB by now.

Still if you consider a point of principle more important than your wife then good luck to the pair of you.

If people just roll over and accept an injustice nothing will ever change.

The issue is to do with the first email giving me the link to the online system. No where in that email, link or online form does it say that those without DLA/PIP who have automatic entitlement should not complete the online claim despite it being a renewal but should instead complete the full application form obtainable at https://www.............

Then that would have been clear and the form would have been completed.

To tell me some 8 weeks after completing the online form that I should have completed the full form is suggesting that I enjoy filling out these forms on her behalf.

poppy12345

Danday wrote: »

To once again draw a comparison. Those with a suitable PIP/DLA mobility award would not be required to prove continued mobility issues.

Rightly so, why would they have to prove it? They just need to send the award that entitles them to the BB.



Your wife doesn't have either of these awards, so you have to send the evidence and do it correctly. Otherwise your poor wife will continue to be without her BB. All the time you've been posting here, you could have done what you should have, then posted it tomorrow.

NeilCr

Danday wrote: »

If people just roll over and accept an injustice nothing will ever change.

The issue is to do with the first email giving me the link to the online system. No where in that email, link or online form does it say that those without DLA/PIP who have automatic entitlement should not complete the online claim despite it being a renewal but should instead complete the full application form obtainable at https://www.............

Then that would have been clear and the form would have been completed.

To tell me some 8 weeks after completing the online form that I should have completed the full form is suggesting that I enjoy filling out these forms on her behalf.

I believe you live in Surrey

Here is the link to their Blue Badge information page

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/parking/blue-badge/apply-for-or-renew-a-blue-badge

One click took me to a statement saying that you need to fill in the full form if you are on AA. To be honest, given your other history with form completion it does look like you need, and should seek, help when it comes to these things. It's always worth spending a little time to research what you are going to be doing

Yes. I think you should fight injustice. But, in cases like this, get the BB and then start trying to change the system, complaining etc. As poppy says all this prevaricating is delaying even more getting your wife the BB she sorely needs

ETA.

No-one "enjoys" completing forms. But most of us realise it is a necessity - particularly when we are helping our nearest and dearest.

elsien

You've got a right bee in your bonnet about PIP/DLA.

Firstly, indefinite awards aren't. They still get reviewed.

And secondly, most people are honest.Their mobility improves, they let the DWP know so as not to get charged with fraud, and they hand their BB. back with a huge sigh of relief that it is no longer needed.
And yes I am talking from personal experience.

I'm out now. You're arguing just for the sake of it in a style somewhat reminiscent of a previously not sadly departed poster.

Either apply or don't. Up to you. Me, I'd be putting my partner before some principles that aren't making a huge amount of sense.

happyandcontented

The only way you will get the BB is to follow procedure. They won't change it for you.