Renewing a blue badge for mental health... questions!

honeybee1234

Hi all

I'm doing my blue badge renewal form on the gov.uk website. I got my original badge due to mental health issues. I don't get an automatic blue badge due to PIP - although I do get PIP for my issues, at the time of my original application, I was receiving the PIP mobility element under Planning and Following Journeys, descriptor d, needing someone with me on unfamiliar journeys, so explained my needs around that. 

Since then, I've moved areas so am under a different council, and my needs have increased. To illustrate, I now receive PIP under descriptor f, needing someone with me on familiar journeys, have been diagnosed with PTSD, which gives me a lot of severe agoraphobia-type symptoms, and I have a carer who supports me if I need to go out.

I'm about to write in the form, and wanted to know if anyone could advise on the following:

1. Would it be useful to reference my previous application under a different council and give brief details? I've read this can help as some will cross reference a previous application if the condition is still there. 

2. Are there any useful articles that may help in how to structure the written section, or any input people may have? In terms of what the council are looking for, that is, when applying because of mental health issues.

Whilst some councils appear to have a different system for renewals, mine doesn't, also it doesn't provide an awful lot of detail or help on their website. 

Thankyou in advance! 

Spoonie_Turtle

There is detailed guidance here; scroll down for 'subject to further assessment' https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-local-authority-guidance-england/blue-badge#determining-the-eligibility-of-individual-applicants
It does repeat itself a lot and obviously the parts about physical difficulties won't apply to you but hopefully it helps explain what they are looking for, how it should be assessed. 

The main point is you need to have "very considerable difficulty whilst walking*, which may include very considerable psychological distress" or that you are "at risk of serious harm, when walking, or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to themselves or any other person".
*Outside, doing a typical journey add the context for a Blue Badge, not simply the physical act of walking around your house or garden.