General Chat

Just trying to apply for one, it would have been easier if i had smuggled my way in, the info you have to send is ridiculous, at the age of nearly 70, born and bred here I have to prove it all but illegal's don't have to. Rant over thanks for reading it.

ZZzzz I am applying for one and all I have to send is a copy of my passport and a utility bill plus an up-to-date photo, that's all. I do receive PIP already do you receive it?

Florence in the hebrides

Crikey I have had to send photo gf my drivers license, national insurance number, proof of my address, and a recent photo of me. Then jump through all the hoops of what meds I'm on etc etc

They are a pain in the butt to apply for and even worse if they summon you for an assessment :-| :-| :-|

They can come to my house and assess me, but they should have seen me in town earlier today, that would have been all the proof they need.

I had to go to one of the council places to get my assessment done :-|

Ah I dont need an assessment as I have already been assessed in order to get my PIP.

Do you get PIP ZZzzz?

Erm, the idea of getting a blue badge is because you can't walk very far, not to struggle with their stupid ideas. I can only walk 2 or 3 metres, then I need a walking aid.

If you have mobility problems, you may qualify for their mobility part of PIP. Its worth applying ZZzz and then the blue badge app form is much shorter.

I don't get PIP yet.

Over here, I would have to get the form from the Blue Badge people, which is NOT a government agency, fill it all out, take it to my doctor to have him verify that I need the Badge, and fill in some medical information. Then pay for it as it takes time out of the allotted hours for medical treatment and isn't covered by the medical insurance.

Then I would have to send the completed form to the Blue Badge people and hope they accept it.

I went into it some years ago, but decided I wasn't yet ready, and OH could always drop me off near the door if necessary.

After today's visit to the doctor, and the pain I was in going home because I'd had to walk a bit more, and sit for longer than usual ........... I'm thinking I might have to venture into it again.

I'm not, however , sure that I could use it in another province, or whether I'd have to go through the whole process again for the province where daughter lives. The badge does just hang from the inside rear view mirror so it can be transferred to another car, ie there didn't seem to be any need to submit car licence plate numbers

My husband - aged 82 and with various health and mobility problems has had a blue badge for several years now. Every year he has to reapply - not just a renewal but starting from scratch with all documentary and photographic proof etc.
Do they really think that at his age all his problems are going to suddenly improve?

Incidentally - we are registered as a priority customer with the Water Board who will apparently help out if we are cut off by bringing water to us. They rang last month to say that as we had told them we had a blue badge the hosepipe ban did not apply to us as it was considered we could not carry heavy watering cans etc. Don't think it was very well publicised tho - but haven't needed to do much watering anyway - and it's been pouring last night and today!

Cornish Susie, that is true re hosepipe ban as my dad has a blue badge and was told as he couldn't carry a heavy watering can it didnt apply (he is 85).

I am in the process to of applying for one and they want the ins and outs of a ducks elbow !

I have to state all the info of my operations with dates surgeons names etc etc which as I have seen several it’s a big job getting it all together.

Plus my passport isn’t any good cos my hair is now very short ,white and curly

I got my granddaughter to take a picture of me on my iPad and it’s awful but it will have to do

Medway council don’t seem to do one to one assessments but go by what you declare on the form which is pages and pages and some seem repeat asked in a different way

I gave up first time as I didn’t have to hand all the surgery info needed :-(

My OH's first application was refused. He had to go for an assessment and they watched him walk around the outside of the building, it nearly killed him but because he had done it they refused his application.

The second time he applied they did the same thing and they asked him questions about his mobility ie did he have a stairlift, did he need any mobility aids etc. This time his application was accepted.

I can remember when I was working seeing the Council, with police in attendance, checking displayed Blue Badges and waiting to see who came back to the car. Often there were arguments when Badges were confiscated due to the holder not being in the car or because the Badge was counterfeit :-0

Belle, I have seen the Blue Badge abused by many ie...I was sitting in a car in an ordinary space a few years ago. Blue badge displayed in windscreen. Out pops a young person who rushes into supermarket to do shopping.

The disabled person was not with them! They may well have been doing that person's shopping, but as the disabled person was not in the car at the time, the driver should not have been occupying a disabled space.

Shirley I'm assuming, you don't get PIP? You may have to actually get your passport photo redone just because your hair maybe different now as you said, curly.

All these assessments have to be thorough otherwise many people would scam the government getting things when really, they are not entitled to them.

If you or someone in your family has mobility issues or daily living, then you should apply for PIP. Yes, it's a lengthy application form but once you have done it, it makes applying for other things such as a Blue Badge much easier.

My only problem is I need a new photo and have to wait until a friend is free to drive me 20 plus miles to the coop where they have a photo booth.

I should say that when I have to fill in these forms, I photocopy them so if I need to refer back another time, I have all the info to hand.

Florence in the hebrides

Florence
No I don’t get PIP as I don’t qualify on several accounts

I can potter around but walking any distance at all is a big no no

I struggle tbh

I can’t do stairs or steps but fortunately have a stair lift

But I can look after myself in most ways so am not as incapacitated as lots are

It’s getting out and being able to shop or do anything socially I have big problems with because of mobility issues .

I can drive still but then it’s getting out from then is the problem

I even used a mobility scooter in June when we went to Cornwall and that was a big help