Blue Badge

I got my Blue Badge last year, admitedly I do get PIP so the process was easy. I do have a friend who doesnt get any of the benefits who also got one, in our area (Surrey) she had to have an assessment and submit medical evidence. Fingers cross you get yours to.
Just as a matter of interest did you know it can also be used to prove disability to get entry to some attractions at a reduced rate and this means companions can also get reductions.

Hope you are successful Lucky

My very obstinate brother in law, who has severe rheumatoid arthritis but claims no benefits (grrr), has just got one.

My friend's dh is on dialysis and has one - though I'm not sure why - it seemed to be automatic.

At the Alzheimer's society we have found it to be very random.

It should all be better in the new year when the criteria change.

kitty my mum was on dialysis for years. neither she nor my dad could drive so no need for a blue badge. After a very long day on dialysis she could barely walk or even hardly stay awake she was so weak and late in the day after was in agony waiting for the next session. Dialysis is horrible for anyone so it probably is automatic for patients to get a well deserved blue badge.

gillybob I was going to say similar. It has been a real eye opener gaining more knowledge as you meet people with problems. There are so many health problems that are dibilitating that unless you suffer from them you don't know what a person is going through and often don't know unless you live with them. Hope you are lucky but seriously hope your application is successful luckygirl

I' also on pip but mine came from the council and all done via email and approved the same day, I was gobsmacked they were so efficient, not like them at all.

I could have done with one last year when I had really bad mobility problems but apparently temporary blue badges are not available. I just had to hope that the parking space was wide enough to open the car door as fully as possible so I could get out - getting in wasn't quite so bad. I still have mobility problems but they're not as bad thankfully

As flexible says I thought you had to apply to your council. That's how mum got hers.
There is a big debate on a local page of FB about the changes. I won't be applying for DS but I'm wondering on the criteria for those applying on mental health groubds.

Good luck luckygirl I hope you receive yours swiftly.

We applied to our county council for my aunt's blue badge. Filled everything in on line and provided some information from her doctor. Pretty straightforward.

My daughter has one ,she has multiple health problems and has severe mobility issues.She wanted hers so she can take her girls out and park close to where they want to be.Parking at the opposite end of the high street to the swimming pool and walking wasn't possible for her.
She got a lot of flack from folk about it though ,because she's young,not 40,and overweight..steroids .I just wish people would think before they rant at someone who obviously needed the BB or she wouldn't have got it .

Supported by a letter from our GP we received our blue badge last year, we are not on any benefits at all, live in the London area.

Hazbeen there’s a bit of a problem with that, we were asked for it once and couldn’t produce it as it was needed to be displayed in the car for the parking! Bonkers.

Hi, on blue badges, could someone answer a question for me? I am going to visit my father tomorrow to take him for a hospital visit on Monday. He has a blue badge that allows long stay parking in certain parking places in the town (he doesn't have any parking place or car any more himself). I will drive from the parking location to pick him up from his house on Monday. As the purpose of my visit is to help him, would I be entitled to use the blue badge to park over the weekend?

I think so, but the rules seem rather patchy at times.

DS has a blue badge and I use it anywhere that I take him. it allows parking in disabled places in car parks (not free though) and any where that isn't causing a nuisance or is used for loading.

My friend's husband is still quite fit and, apart from occasional tiredness, can carry on life fairly normally - he is nothing like as bad as your mum was gilly by the sound of it.

You should be able to use it at anytime if the badge holder is with you in the car however you would not be able to use it if for example he was in hospital and you were visiting him.

After a long wait (and a couple of phone calls to our local council as our application seemed to have gone astray!) I now have a BB relating to my husband who is now using a wheelchair daily. What a difference it makes to us and I'm sure to many others. I get annoyed when I hear people making accusations that "they are not needing one". I think if you have filled in the form and meet the criteria it is no-one's business why you need one.

Your friends DH is very lucky kitty . Long may it continue but sadly I doubt it will . I regularly visited and sometimes accompanied my mum on Dialysis . Until you have seen with your own eyes what these poor people go through no one can quite understand . It takes ages to get the needles in place ( and it’s excruciatingly painful ) and it often takes hours to even stop the bleeding after a very long and tiring session . Patients regularly faint ( as the blood falls dangerously low) they are nauseous...... I could go on . Suffice to say it’s hearbreaking watching someone you love going through it 3-4 times a week for their whole life .

Sorry don't mean to preach though

It does make a huge difference to anyone who is struggling, for whatever reason.

Temporary BBs are available in Scotland. I discovered this when I was waiting (in England), in a lot of pain, for almost a year, for a hip replacement. A friend is now in the same position, but her waiting time is, mercifully, much shorter.

I got a BB for my mother, who doesn't get any disability payments. She is 90yo and is not very mobile due to arthritis.

It was quick and easy from the council. She doesn't drive herself. but it's a boon when friends or I take her out.

My OH applied online and simply went to the local library to have his application approved, have his photo taken and pay £10.00 (I think it was). The BB arrived within days and was granted for a 3 year period. I'm not so sure it will be so seamless when it comes to reapplying, but it's made a vast difference for his independence.

I have had a blue badge since 1970 (it was orange in those days) and I received it because I was on a certain benefit, Mobility Allowance, since changed to Disabled Living Allowance at the higher level. Because of this allowance, I am entitled to free road tax for my car. My complaint, which is not for myself, is that any person, who is over 65, when they start to receive this allowance, will not be entitled to free road tax. A blue badge, yes, but not free tax. This seems to be very unfair, as a lot of people don't become disabled enough until after the age of 65. I feel that this rule needs to be looked at and amended. Having the free road tax enables me to park free in Council Car Parks and more importantly, at hospitals. There is something very unfair, here.

But, gilly, in my opinion he doesn't currently need one where lots of other people would find their lives hugely improved if they could get one for 'hidden' disabilities.

kitty I find the people with the "hidden" disabilities have such a hard time when they display their BBs.
You can see people watching them park and wait for them to display the BB you can then see the look of horror on their faces when the BB owner "seems" to be able bodied.