Blue Badge Assessment

[classylady60]

I hope this is the right place to ask this. Has anyone had an assessment for their blue badge since the new rules came in (as per tightening up on handing them out)? I just wondered what happened and who one saw for this, any details would be gratefully received, many thanks.

CL

[Ratty2E]

You could try here

http://www.direct.gov...badgescheme/index.htm

We have a blue badge as my husband is registered blind, but it was all sorted out for us by social services.

[pretty_snowdrop]

My 83 year old dad is going for an assessment next week. He has had a blue badge for years mainly because he had bad gout and hip problems, he isn't disabled as such but he can't walk very far. He has recently had a heart attack and they still won't automatically replace it. I will let you how he gets on.

[classylady60]

Thanks everyone. There are circumstances where they will still automatically issue them and blindness is one of them ratty - glad your hubby's was taken care of. Will be interested to know what happens for your dad snowdrop, it's a similar case to my OH, he's had the badge for years but now he's been told he has to have an assessment, so was interested to find out what actually happens. Hope your dad gets on ok and his is given again.

@ clarion I feel they are trying to stop people having them automatically but it's also to weedle out the ones who apply and shouldn't get them, I guess they have so many people trying it on that the genuine ones have to suffer. Don't blame them but like everything they clamp down on, the ones in need sometimes have to go without because of the ones who flout the system.

[rowanwitch]

the most important thing is to answer the questions based on your bad days.... the moment you say 'well somedays I can walk round a couple of shops ' you lose it.. its not dishonest...its those bad days you need it for

[classylady60]

Thank you for that rowan, you're right especially as the bad days are more as you get older....sigh.

[starone]

Didn't realise you would have to have an assessment when it was up for renewal. When I got mine it was just fill in the form and give your doctor's name. I think it is quite good because I have often seen people I thought were all right with them. But it is not always obvious that one has something wrong. For instance heart problems are not apparent and many other disabilities.

[classylady60]

They've changed everything now Star....I don't think they take doctor's notes into consideration now so don't issue them automatically unless you have certain conditions. They are also allowed to charge up to £10 for administration if they want, OH's was still £2 this time but don't know how long that will be for.

[Annejps]

The most ridiculous thing about this new assessment (and all the other ones) is that the government is trying the put GPs in charge of so much - but don't consider that they are qualified enough to decide whether their patient is unfit to work or disabled enough to be entitled to a blue badge. Go figure.

[Everhelpful]

Never thought of it that way,annejps,but you are absolutely right.

[classylady60]

Too true anne, think they want to stop the amount of badges that are issued so have handed it to those not as qualified (IMO) as our own GP's whose advice and recommendations have been good enough until now.