Blue badge blues

joanlawson

Hi
This is going to be a moan, I'm afraid.
I asked my doctor at the beginning of March whether he thought I would qualify for a Blue badge for disabled parking. He said yes,and he would support my application. I filled in my part of the form and attached photos, then took it to the surgery for him to fill in his part,enclosing the envelope to send it off.

I've heard nothing, so rang the council office, only to be told they haven't received it. When I checked at the doctor's, I was told that it had been handed to the doctor on March 6th, but they don't know what he has done with it. He is now on holiday for two weeks, so no-one can find out until he comes back. As it can take a further 28 days from the time the form is received, I am pretty fed up

Sorry to moan, but things like this are very irritating, aren't they?

Joan

noeltone

Hi Joan sorry to hear about that can another doctor at your practice do it as the other one should have done it and was agreeable if you can get another form it is so annoying i had that once with some dLA forms which lay on a GP's desk and than he wanted paying to fill them in and so I changed doctor and now have a nice lady who helps and has helped me a lot Chrisov

ritnew

Hi Joan

I applied online. I have had a call from the Blue Badge people saying they are just waiting for the report from my doctor then if it's approved I have to go in with a photo and to sign something.

Rita X

livinglegend

From handing in the completed renewal form to receiving my badge was 7 days. But the first application will be longer.

My GP was very good on the first form. Handed in during the afternoon, ready signed, next morning.

Joseph 8)

nearlybionic

Hi
I didn`t need to get a gp report. I applioed inperson at my town hall and took Xray reports, hospital letters etc.. and once I took them my photos they approved it there and then for 3 years to cover my next 2 lots of surgery and OA. It arrived in post within a week.
DLA.........well that`s a different story! :roll:
NB

airwave

and when you get your badge, you can pull faces at the people who park in blue badge spaces at B&Q and don't need to, I was surrounded by them today.
I think their usefulness is diminishing, often I can't find a space.
8) Its a grin, honest!

bagpuss

Just wanted to add. Why do you get angry looks from people when you do park in disabled parking spaces (when you hold a blue badge) we do look like "normal people", but we are in agony as well. :x

border

bagpuss wrote:

Just wanted to add. Why do you get angry looks from people when you do park in disabled parking spaces (when you hold a blue badge) we do look like "normal people", but we are in agony as well. :x

This also applies to the Radar key used to open disabled loo. People look at equally angrily.

petmad

Hi, my blue badge took forever to come, given I work for social services I ended up getting my team leader to kick a stink and it came the next day, I had been waiting 6 weeks though knew it had been passed.
As for the loo keys I have just sent for 2 as my7 friends husband is disabled. I got them from eBay, no check to see I was entitled to use it....so anyone could buy them...I can just see the queues :roll: Linda

mash65

my dr filled in the form & sent it off for me & i recieved mine in exactly 2wks,from start to finish.
cant get mobility component of dla though :shock: but thats another story. :roll:
naught but ive noticed loads parked in dis.bays,then yesterday guy had parked up & limped back to his car,but no badge on display.then my o/hs great uncle has just been fined for not displaying his,it had fell on the floor.so he's had to take it to council to try & appeal the fine. sorry never thought id become a badge watcher after i got mine,but it does get annoying when you cant park & having a bad day. debsx

joanlawson

Hi
An update on this:

After much ringing up, I have been told that my application has at last been posted off yesterday :!: My doctor has had it since 6th March, almost 6 weeks. The receptionist tried to excuse him by saying he has been on holiday. Not for 6 weeks, I think :!:

It can take up to a month from the time it is received, so I'm annoyed to say the least. Nothing I can do except wait.

Joan

suzster

i have a radar key and i have had so many 'staff' question me using it, good i guess but it not nice being questioned, the worst was a member of staff at the train station, he asked in a loud voice if i actuaaly needed to use the disabled toilet? my reply, yes, why would i have a key if i didn't need it? i didn't realise they were so readily available though, it seem's wrong to sell them on ebay, or is that just me being silly??!!!

brian35

Just applied online for a temporary blue badge after TKR and turned down.

'Thank you for applying online for our blue badge. Unfortunately due to your present circumstances you are not eligible for a blue badge. Whilst we accept that you may have difficulty walking, it is not severe enough to qualify for a blue badge; you must be permanently and substantially disabled, and unable or virtually unable to walk.'

ikesother

Hi there, I think the DWP think that as soon as youve had a Knee/Hip Replacement, that you are fit and able straight away thats that! I cant wait till mine then They live on another planet; one thats fit, able and never experienced pain! thats it rant over

joanlawson

Hi
For anyone with an arthritic hip, knee or ankle/foot, there is bound to be quite a long period before and after surgery when walking is very difficult. Therefore, I think there should be temporary issue of blue badges until the person's condition improves, and they should trust GP's to assess this. This doesn't exist at the moment, I don't think, so we should all write to our MP's and the Health secretary about it.

Joan

brian35

joanlawson wrote:

Hi
Therefore, I think there should be temporary issue of blue badges until the person's condition improves, and they should trust GP's to assess this. This doesn't exist at the moment ...

Joan

No, I asked about six NHS staff and they confirmed it. Makes me sick when I see some Blue Badge holders walking about quite easily and parking wherever they want!

eckstardeluxe

Hi there

I'm sorry you are having trouble getting something you so badly need. I was fortunate in that I had what our Council states was automatic approval meaning they didn't go to my Dr or seek further info. I don't know if I would have bothered otherwise so I think it's great you are doing it.

I just got my badge this week and I'd say keep going. It surprised me how much better it makes things although I'm having lots of comments from people when I park in a space, especially when I have my young children with me which is upsetting. But it's worth it just for that few extra steps that can make the difference between managing the shops or going back to the car in pain. I hope you get it sorted soon, please keep us posted on your progress if it's convenient.

xx

joanlawson

Thanks Eckstar

I am amazed to hear from you and others that you get comments from people when you park. Who do they think they are? If I ever get my badge, I will have to be prepared for this. One thing which does annoy me is when I see people who have no children parking in the parent and child spaces.

I intend to ring the council on Monday to check that they have received my application, because I don't trust the doctor's any longer. Keeping it for 6 weeks was unacceptable, and if I hadn't done some investigating , it probably would still not have been sent.

Joan

mash65

its disgusting.
i had to fight for nearly 12months to get LRC & yet my gp supported my blue badge .now im fighting my mobility rate, as i have a blue badge proving i have walking problems,but dla say i have no problems.
another appeal,if they just wrote to my gp theyd get the truth.
wondering how much all these appeals r costing the tax payers.
ive worked all my life,& paid taxes.
i got my badge for 3yrs & LRC for 12months :shock: :x :shock:
oa is degenerative disease,not going to get better.
good luck to you all keep up the fight.

eckstardeluxe

joanlawson wrote:

Thanks Eckstar

I am amazed to hear from you and others that you get comments from people when you park. Who do they think they are? If I ever get my badge, I will have to be prepared for this. One thing which does annoy me is when I see people who have no children parking in the parent and child spaces.

I intend to ring the council on Monday to check that they have received my application, because I don't trust the doctor's any longer. Keeping it for 6 weeks was unacceptable, and if I hadn't done some investigating , it probably would still not have been sent.

Joan

Thanks Joan. Don't you worry though. I had read on here some of the posters experiences re comments made and I get upset mentally because my kids hear the word "disabled". But I make them wish they never said it! I concocted a large list of witty retorts in preperation and am using them with glee. I remember when I was 19 having done a double shift in a nursing home for the elderly with severe mental issues, being asked to give up my seat on the bus for an old man. There were loads of other people there but he picked on me. I was absolutely exhausted and had 8 miles to travel. When I said no, he was very cheeky going on about "young people these days having no respect for old folk". Alas back then I was young and just shot off at the mouth at him. "I've been wiping old folk's arses and caring for them for the last 12 hours so just you f off you ignorant little man". It felt great at the time, a couple of people even clapped but I felt awful about it afterwards and my Mum told me off! Now it feels great and no guilt!

eckstardeluxe

mash65 wrote:

its disgusting.
i had to fight for nearly 12months to get LRC & yet my gp supported my blue badge .now im fighting my mobility rate, as i have a blue badge proving i have walking problems,but dla say i have no problems.
another appeal,if they just wrote to my gp theyd get the truth.
wondering how much all these appeals r costing the tax payers.
ive worked all my life,& paid taxes.
i got my badge for 3yrs & LRC for 12months :shock: :x :shock:
oa is degenerative disease,not going to get better.
good luck to you all keep up the fight.

I agree. Why do they make it so difficult for genuine people to get what they are entitled to? Yet everyone seems to know someone who seems to get everything and they don't even seem too bad. I've seen a window cleaner with a motability car!! I have to try and remind myself that I don't know what they are like behind closed doors but it's hard when they are up a ladder carrying a bucket full of water.

greyheron

brian35 wrote:

Just applied online for a temporary blue badge after TKR and turned down.

'Thank you for applying online for our blue badge. Unfortunately due to your present circumstances you are not eligible for a blue badge. Whilst we accept that you may have difficulty walking, it is not severe enough to qualify for a blue badge; you must be permanently and substantially disabled, and unable or virtually unable to walk.'

Hi Brian and everyone

I think I posted before about this but just in case it's helpful again ...

After I had my TKR in November I was able to drive after a month (left TKR, automatic car) but needed to open the door to its widest to get out - not enough room to do this in 'ordinary' car park spaces.

So I contacted the manager at my local supermarket (Waitrose)and explained my problem. He was very understanding, said that I could park in a disabled space but should leave a note on the dashboard each time explaining why I had parked there and giving his name as 'reference'. I did this 3 or 4 times until my knee bending was good enough not to need the 'wide open door' technique. The car park is patrolled and I made a point of speaking to the patrol man the first time I did it. I never had a problem and was very grateful for the difference it made.

Obviously you can't do this with council car parks etc. but it's worth a try with commercially owned ones where you may get a sympathetic hearing.

All the best

Wendy

jackie1955

quote: "Why do they make it so difficult for genuine people to get what they are entitled to?

Yes, the genuine ones have to fight tooth and nail to get anything.
It's so unfair when you get people 'pretending' to be ill and making false claims, they must have no conscience. Have just read about such people in Take A Break magazine, they are unbelievable! How they get on benefits anyway I don't understand???? Claiming to have all sorts of disabilities (surely they would have had to supply medical evidence of this?) they've had thousands of pounds in benefits while working/living the high life :shock:

BUT they've been caught out Some getting a prison sentence, others basically a slap on the hand. They should have to pay every damned penny back - with interest.

They make my blood boil :x :x :x :x

Jackie

frogmorton

Jackie
Is it this weeks mag?
I will go and get one if it is...
Toni x

eckstardeluxe

jackie1955 wrote:

quote: "Why do they make it so difficult for genuine people to get what they are entitled to?

Yes, the genuine ones have to fight tooth and nail to get anything.
It's so unfair when you get people 'pretending' to be ill and making false claims, they must have no conscience. Have just read about such people in Take A Break magazine, they are unbelievable! How they get on benefits anyway I don't understand???? Claiming to have all sorts of disabilities (surely they would have had to supply medical evidence of this?) they've had thousands of pounds in benefits while working/living the high life :shock:

BUT they've been caught out Some getting a prison sentence, others basically a slap on the hand. They should have to pay every damned penny back - with interest.

They make my blood boil :x :x :x :x

Jackie

Hi Jackie, this may make you feel a little better, I work in the system but not with the DWP. They have to pay it all back, they pay interest too if they refute allegations which are later discovered to be false. Additionally if they do not admit it right away they face a sentence but they always pay it back, unfortunately they never make enough of it. I see the ads about closing in on them and tell the hubby I wish they'd say on the Ads what really happens to them. Plus they are monitored forever after it and all the dpts DWP, HMRC local Government all share info on them. Also a compulsory order is usually made meaning they have 28 days to pay. They never say this on ads that people get letters demanding £££££ in 28 days.

nearlybionic

Hi ecktardeluxe
And so they should!! Monitoring them afterewards will cost money though so they are still costing the system due to their dishonesty!!!
NB