Disability Badge

taichiperson | 07:14 Wed 08th Jun 2016 | Health & Fitness

33 Answers

I thought I'd ask about the criteria for a disability badge on behalf of my mother, who is 81. She has a chronic long time problem with her lungs after having whooping cough as a child, and scarring in one lung as a result. It means she has always had a cough (I can't recall the name of the condition, sorry) and gets short of breath when walking. Although she has managed very well over the years, now she's older it is becoming more than a problem.

We take her on holiday every year, and this time she has been very restricted in the distance she can walk without getting tired and short of breath. She's managed pretty well really, but we wondered whether we could get a blue badge so that it's easier to drop her off and pick her up when out and about. What are the criteria please, and how can we apply?

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EDDIE51

^^ You MUST put how she is on the worst days!
We were refused a badge and the disability living allowance 3 times. Then we got the CAB adviser to do the application on our behalf. When the CAB did it we got it approved within 5 days and backdated 6 months. The adviser stressed that it is essential to put how the person is on their WORST days otherwise you are likely to be refused.

taichiperson

Question Author

Thanks Eddie. Money is not a factor for her - in fact it's more of an issue for us, as my other half has retired, and running her around is not cheap. We are her only means of getting about as I am an only child and she won't take buses.

furrypusscat

Applications are done through the County Council. Doctors are not contacted and have nothing to do with applications now like they used to. If the council are not satisfied with the completed form they can put applicants through their own walking test so the form needs to be completed taking into consideration her walking ability on a bad day to include pain, tiredness, breathlessness, how many times she would have to stop and rest or take medication and how long it would take her to complete the distance etc. If she is successful there is a charge of around £10 and the card lasts for 3 years. Given her medical problems I would have thought she would be entitled but it will depend on the distance she enters on the form.

silliemillie

I just wondered, because as Eddie says they are quite strict. If you claim DLA you have already crossed most hurdles and if you get DLA at the highest rate you are very likely to get it, otherwise it is a bit of a slog.

furrypusscat

DLA or Personal Independence Payment as it is known by now is not available for people over 65 unless they received it before aged 65, it would have to be Attendance Allowance which doesn't incorporate a mobilty award. People still qualify for the blue badge if they meet the council's criteria.

ladybirder

Taichi, is she on for adopting a couple of kiddies then you could park in the Mother and Children spaces or whatever they're called?

EDDIE51

furrypussycat. Doctors ARE required to sign the application unless the applicant qualifies by getting higher rate DLA or one of the other qualifying benefits. The doctor has to write a report that in their opinion the person needs the badge and qualifies for it.

EDDIE51

^^ We have just this week applied for the new badge. My wife gets higher rate DLA so qualifies on that. Otherwise the GP s report is needed.
Most councils including ours (Hertfordshire) no longer handle blue badge applications themselves. They have sub contracted it out , ours has to go to a post box address of an organisation in Manchester.

237SJ

When someone is elderly, it is almost cut and dried that they will get the badge. When my Mum applied for one https://www.richmond.gov.uk/blue_badge_apply it was granted very quickly. There was no need for the GP to be involved. As Murraymints says though - you should say it how it is when it comes to the questions and not try to be brave.