Blue badge assessment

lynn57buckingham

I have to attend an assessment to renew my blue badge on 22 Feb. I have to pay for a letter from my GP as evidence of my condition beforehand. I have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis in addition to the osteoarthritis I have had for approx 10 years now (knees mainly, really difficult to walk).
I rely on my blue badge more for my work than home life, as my husband does the shopping & I don't go out much.
At work though, I need to attend training/events, & knowing I can reserve a parking space nearby saves me anxiety & stress. I actually applied for my current/first badge after an embarrassing occasion when I went on training & the car park was about half a mile away, it was icy from snow, & fortunately the people with me dropped me at the door & parked then I waited whilst they collected the car to come back. Both were my managers so I am lucky to have such aware & supportive work managers & colleagues.
Sometimes I have to go places by myself. Whereas it never used to bother me in the least, now I get in a state over it because of my mobility difficulties.
Can anyone tell me what a blue badge assessment consists of? I have a dreadful feeling I will be turned down.

wall1409

Dont worry hun, its done at physio dept of local hospital or sometimes in your own home but they can write to your GP for further info if need be and that will not cost

Wendy x

elainebadknee

I am not sure if the above is correct as sure have heard of people having to go to ATOS style buildings....There was a guy on here (sorry forgotten his name and he had a TKR last year).......Different areas, different ways of doing it...

Good luck in any event, Lynne

Elainexx

wall1409 wrote:

Dont worry hun, its done at physio dept of local hospital or sometimes in your own home but they can write to your GP for further info if need be and that will not cost

Wendy x

frogmorton

Lynn

I do think different areas operate different methods to assess for blue badges so we can't really give you a definitive answer sorry .

They aren't there to catch you out really. Don't get too stressed, just say it as it is....how far you really can walk. You will obviously have any mobility aids with you so they will see what you need to get around.

In our area it's done by one of the OT assistants.

Love

Toni xxx

hileena111

Hi
Like others say....different areas different ways of doing it.
Northumberland.....I had to fill in a form {pages and pages and pages }
Send it off with faviouse bits of ID and notes from my GP and that was all.
Oh yes £10 of course

Love
Hileena

blueknees

I had one last year in my local library. The OT looked at my application and asked lots of questions then took me for a walk, about 75 yards.

I failed and was refused the BB, I appealed but still failed. That was before my TKR, I had told them I was due for the TKR so they said my condition was not permanent. It has to be permanent to qualify. I had reports from the consultant.

My most recent was a few weeks ago, this followed my failed TKR and I had a report from my consultant that stated I was clearly struggling with my mobility and the TKR although successful from the radiological point of view had led to some conditions that led to my mobility problems.

This time it was in a One Stop Shop but with the same OT that failed me last time.

This time she didn't take me for a walk as I was clearly struggling, I was awarded the badge but still waiting for the letter to go and collect it.

IMO be careful what you say and do, don't mention walking from the car into work or anything like that.

You have to be unable to walk properly for 50 yards now and that distance is getting shorter soon (20 yards I hear).

Good luck

lynn57buckingham

Thank you everyone for your info & support. I have a feeling I will be turned down, but hey-ho, life goes on.

GraceB

Hi,

Firstly blueknees, well done and I hope you find it as useful to you as mine has been, and continues to be.

As someone who's on their third blue badge and about to switch to number 4 I thought I might be able to help. Apologies if I'm 'teaching you to suck eggs' as we say down here in Kent.

Basically you can park on double yellow lines for 3 hours providing you display the badge and clock correctly. However, you must not create a hazard (i.e., park on a corner) or where there are yellow vertical lines going down the kerb. It's also a 'no-no' to park partly on the path (I've known people get ticketed for that). Some hospitals allow you to park free of charge in disabled bays for 3 hours; some don't - so always check the parking rules of wherever it is you're going. Local council car parks also tend to allow BB holders 3 hours free parking, again as long as you're in a BB space.

It's not worth challenging the thoughtless oiks who park their flash cars in supermarket disabled bays. You'll more than likely to get a mouthful so it's best avoided. If the disabled bays are all taken, I use a parent & toddler space and if challenged by store staff I point out that if they checked the disabled bays and got said thoughtless oiks to move their flash cars, there'd have been a space for me to use.

Here in Kent you have to send the form off with your evidence, photo and cheque and eventually (10 weeks later) you get your badge if you're lucky enough to qualify.

Very good tip about the chair. [ text deleted]

GraceB

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