No blue badge!

mellman01

Went to my GP today and asked if it would be worth me putting in for a blue badge ( I have OA of both knee caps) his reply was no as he would be asked if I could walk 50 yards so it wouldn’t be worth me applying. So what kind and type and severity of Arthur makes a person eligible these days?. :? :?:

oneday

I got told the same!...which is great when youre having a flare and its agony to walk!

mellman01

oneday wrote:

I got told the same!...which is great when youre having a flare and its agony to walk!

Well at least it's not just me then!, I was told to just stay at home when it's bad that's fair enough but am I still expected to go to work?. talk about catch 22.

c4thyg

I don't see why it would hurt to apply anyway. The worst they can do is say no and that's not too much of a blow if that's what you are expecting.

I recently applied for DLA after lots of pushing from my health visitor who again told me that it doesn't hurt to apply. I was amazed when I was awarded it without any medical. So now I automatically qualify to get a blue badge. I just need to get around to printing out the forms. :roll:

I say go for it and see. It would certainly help in the cold icy weather.

lucymum

hi if u have DLA u can automatically get one!!! If not it is still worth putting in for one, to my knowlage they do not contact your doctor, usually them noting your condition is enough to get one!!!!

sharmaine

Hi Mellman
I don't understand why he declined your request! I have OA in both knees and have a blue badge. I find walking extremely difficult more so within the last couple of months and this past month I have had to use a wheelchair. I have had my blue badge nearly a year. You might be able to walk 50 yards but how painful is it for you? OA is the knees gets progressively worse it doesn't get better.

I would change your GP and apply again. The forms can be downloaded from the internet.

Sharmaine

mellman01 wrote:

Went to my GP today and asked if it would be worth me putting in for a blue badge ( I have OA of both knee caps) his reply was no as he would be asked if I could walk 50 yards so it wouldn’t be worth me applying. So what kind and type and severity of Arthur makes a person eligible these days?. :? :?:

annebr

I agree apply. I applied last year and got the badge and bus pass which has been invaluable this year. I am sure my GP had to sign something but I am Scotland.

Anne

hileena111

I have OA in both hips and was nagged to apply for that and DLA....got the blue badge no problem....use it when I need it. Didnt get even the lower DLA because I didnt need someone to look after me and didnt need someone to escort me about. Thats what they said and when they found out I was down for a double hip mreplacement, first one in Feb they said NO CHANCE....you'll be fine after the replacement....less chance of getting it then.
People have advised me to go to CAB in the new year and get them to appeal. I dont know....its such a lot of forms
but the blue badge is easy........not much to fill in at all
Try for it

Love
Hileena

livinglegend

The criteria on the .gov website says:
Some people qualify for a Blue Badge automatically without having an assessment. Other people may also qualify, but need to have an assessment first to see whether their mobility impairment is severe enough.....

You may also be eligible for a badge if you are over two years old and either:

have a permanent and substantial disability which means you cannot walk, or which makes walking very difficult....

The council may also ask your permission to get further information from your doctor, or ask you to see an independent health professional, like a physiotherapist..
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/Bluebadgescheme/DG_181208

I have left the rest out, but have a look at the webpage given, as it doesn't mention 50yds.

Always worth a try, the worst they can say is no.

Joseph 8)

lizzie7ne

Hi Mellman

Do you see an Occupational Therapist, My O.T. filled in the form for me and I got the Blue Badge, they never contacted my doctor.I cant really remember the form but I am pretty sure they dont even ask for the doctors name and address.


lizzie

hileena111

Hi
My council office is close by and it was during a postal strike so I went in got the form, fileed it in, think I had to put my GPs name down but that was it.....took it back to them and got it shortly afterwards.

Love
Hileena

woodbon

Hi, My husband keeps telling me to apply, as it can be difficult to walk far some days. I thought it would mean more medicals and even then being turned down, but if it is just a form I may give it a go. Especially on days like today, with lots of people shopping and having to walk over icy car parks, can really get you down. (In more ways than one!) Love Sue

margaretschild

Hi all,

This thread is very interesting, I have followed the link found my local authority and downloaded an application form, BUT I have to have an assessment statement from my GP, I have RA and carrying shopping etc is my biggest problem, I am lucky enough to be able to walk most of the time and it categorically states that carrying items such as parcels will not to be taken into account.

So no blue badge for me, I will just have to keep taking the mother in law shopping and use hers.

Quote from app. form

"The disability must be permanent and not just spasmodic" are flare ups classed as spasmodic?

I am totally confused now. I do hope others get their blue badges they are worth their weight in gold.

Linda

janie68

Hi

It sounds to me that it depends on your council, they all seem to have different criteria, so it's pot luck??

Not right I know.

Janie

livinglegend

margaretschild wrote:

"The disability must be permanent and not just spasmodic" are flare ups classed as spasmodic?
Linda

My translation of this would be that you have RA 'permanently'. Flare ups are unpredictably spasmodic, but you still have RA permanently. I think what they are trying to say is that if someone has hip pain for a week every six months but is normally OK, that is spasmodic and you would not get a badge.

Also tell your GP that you increasingly can't cope with walking any distance, even short trips, so you are applying for a Blue Badge. Don't mention carrying shopping or parcels which have nothing to do with how far you can walk. The criteria is walking not how much you are carrying or why.

I would suggest that you complete the form based on one of your bad days and hopefully that would suffice.

Joseph 8)

page35

Hi All
my friends other half has a blue badge cos he only has one hand?? he has no other health probs and can walk fine.
my friend keeps telling me to apply as carrying anything is differcult for me but i am normally ok to walk although i sometimes limp cos of foot pain.

markc1

All i did to get mine was send a copy of industrial injuries assessment...never needed the doctors at all :?

mellman01

Thanks for all the ifo peeps, as normal your all a source of good advice and experiennce.
A big thanks and a merry Christmas to you all.

ifeelninety

Definately apply! I couldnt manage without mine now - I was advised to get one by my work Ot when I first returned to work after long term sick - so about a year after being DX, I got a form from the council. I did have to put it to my docs for them to fill in a bit too. I think it asks how far you can walk without pain. I just put that I cannot walk without pain any distance ( I have RA, knees, hips ankles the worst at the moment - but heh that could change tomorrow). Doc just put pain and discomfort due to RA and retd the form - got my badge within a week , and it is a lifesaver.

Go for it!!