Hello everyone. I’m Sue. This is my first post. I have had AF for 5 years, plus other heart problems. These include AVR and leaky Mitral valve. I take warfarin Candesartan and Bisoprolol. The latter of which I believe makes me quite breathless.
My question is-does anybody on here
have a blue disabled parking permit?
Great site btw.
I don’t think there are many, if any, due to their AF alone, but I’m sure others will comment.
Thank you for your reply flapjack.
I have one due to mobility problems. I added AF to my list of problems when applying.
The application process is a minefield and it varies from Council to Council. Here you need 18 points - I apparently achieved 23 during interview.
There would appear to be 2 different application forms, one being for people on benefits. I got the other one!!
They do not contact your GP hence you need proof of your difficulties. ALWAYS ask for a copy of any letter a specialist is sending to your GP.
I was required to submit a photo of my walk-in shower. As the photo could have been anyone's shower this was a complete nonsense and I told them so.
I had receipts for aids to help myself. They wanted to know how often I used my walker/seat. I answered " As often as is necessary" but the real truth then was that it was brand new & I'd only used it once.
You need to be very canny with your application. I was determined to be 100% truthful. Sadly many friends with real difficulties have had applications rejected yet I see other with badges strolling about like teenagers. It makes me angry because parking places are very limited.
Thank you. Thought I’d ask as this morning on the news they’ve said that people with hidden disabilities such as mental illness could be included in the future.
I don’t have bad legs or anything that looks like I struggle but I do get breathless and so I try to park as close as I can to wherever I’m going.
You’re right it does sound like an ordeal applying so might not bother. Thanks anyway.
AF does not seem to qualify I'm afraid but there may be other circumstances which could raise your score. In addition to anything else I have arthritic knees and ankles and use a stick to walk any distance but when I asked my doctor about disabled badges she told me I would have to be far more unwell that I was.
BobD your answer is very unlike you, what does a GP know about blue badges they park anywhere with a dr on call tag. 
If someone cannot walk normally without aids they should consider applying for a blue badge, same for folk who get breathless which impacts on the distance they can walk. (Less than 20 yards in some cases 50 yards without stopping with discomfort.) If we need medical advice we go to a doctor, god help us, but if we need benefit advice go to CAB or a benefit advisor at one of the charities, and make no mistake a blue badge is a benefit, and for those who have one it can be a life saver. Besides, if someone applies and they fail to get a blue badge as they don’t meet the criteria they will learn a vital lesson, that despite the local gossip and tabloid chatter benefits don’t fall at peoples feet easily these days.
I have one but I have arthritis and mobility problems. It’s due for renewal next year but whether they will or not ???
It depends on your County Council. Had to renew my Mum’s recently. She moved from one council another. It was nightmare and took nearly six months! Wouldn’t mind but she’s registered blind so should get one automatically 🙄😡🙄
To qualify you need to be on the enhanced rate of DLA/PIP, which is not a benefit it is an allowance as you can receive it if you work as well. You will see people using them that can walk, not all disabilities are visible, hence yesterday’s news. The change in policy is to rectify the discrimination under the DDA which has been in place since they interpreted their own rules differently a couple of years ago. England will now fall back in line with Wales and Scotland.
I received pip but not the mobility part of it! So annoying as I can’t walk far at all, we did consider attempting to go back but decided against it!
My wife received both the enhanced rates but as she scored less than 8 on the mobility distance question she didn’t qualify for a blue badge automatically. We did apply anyway and she had an assessment but failed by one point. As they say never give up so appealed and got the badge.
That’s good news. I might try in the future.
Good result eventually
I have had to surrender my driving licence due to AF 
But I have applied and got a bus pass as I'm medically unfit to drive.
Really! That’s a shame. I should qualify for a bus pass once I start receiving the state pension but I know it’s not set in stone 🙄
That is unusual in UK unless you have debilitating symptoms Scoobisu. Yes you should advise DVLA but provided that your AF is controlled and you are not rendered incapable by it few ever loose their license. PSV or HGV are of course different.
I do have debilitating episodes of AF I have other heart problems too and I felt unsafe as I become light headed and my family call it "vacant". So safest all round but I can reapply in one year although my AF is currently rising its head about every 4weeks. It was a paramedic that said I needed to inform them and the question have you had debilitating episodes in the last...... Etc.
I have a problem with the meds so it's not controlled.
Thanks for replying Bob
Yes I have a blue badge it definitely makes life easier as I get so out of breath when walking.
Suzy if you live in London you can get bus pass at 60
Yes I think it depends on the local authority. My husband got his bus pass at 63 even though he didn’t get his state pension till 65. It seems they have changed it again and now don’t receive it in our area until drawing your state pension. In my case that’s 65 & 6 months.🙄
NSR...out of the blue!!
Blue fingers, chilblains and Bisoprolol
Ablation Wednesday, out the blue. 
blue and white feeling very down
