I am posting this here because I imagine there are some of you who may be blue badge holders and just want to know if any of you have had problems. I noticed that a lot of the disabled parking spaces are empty in town when usually they are full and wonder is it because many people have had problems renewing their blue badges and have, in the end decided it is not worth it? Been amazed this year that members of my family have had to renew their blue badges at the same time, my sister who has problems with balance after suffering the effects of intravenous antibiotics given in hospital, my nephew who lost his leg in a car accident (not his fault)
Firstly I was amazed to learn that my nephew has to renew every 3 years when you know his leg isn't going to grow back is it? Surely there should be a better way to deal with cases like his. I understand he also has to re apply for some of the benefits he gets as well - taking up time and money when whoever is dealing with it could possibly be dealing with new claims? My sister is not going to get better either but she doesn't mind renewing but this year - probably because they are trying to move everything online she has had to provide evidence of when first granted the badge - now why isn't that noted by the authorities already and either we or our GP office confirm the information? Well it seems in my sister's case no one now has copies of the letter from her hospital in London. Neither her GP, her hospital consultant or any one. This happened back in 2007 so it has also been hard to get details from the hospital as consultants have moved on and/or retired. Therefore, she had to start the process all over again and did start to say she wasn't going to bother but finally after a four months she has managed to renew her badge. I just wonder where all the information that should be in our medical files in our NHS records goes to? How has it disappeared? They had this information in the past why isn't it kept on file with her previous blue badge applications and she is just asked to confirm via a form letter from her GP that the situation is still on going? She has had to pay for some of these letters so it's quite annoying. These people seem to be making work for themselves and costing us the tax payer money don't you think?
Sorry I didn't mean to turn this into a rant just wondered really if any one else had had problems? If so persevere and go and see someone to sort it out as our neighbour had a similar problem wading through the online form she eventually decided to make an appointment and go to our "council hub" in the next town and sorted it out there in less than 10 minutes and will get her card in 4 days.
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Desanthony
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I had similar problem renewing my husbands Blue Badge after 3 years. He has Parkinson's, which is a degenerative disease. I thought it would just be a simple matter to renew so left it until yhe last moment . I didn't realise that he would have to reapply all over again ! Fortunately it was dealt with very quickly.
My Mum had Parkinson's and funnily enough all those years ago we never seemed to have a problem re-newing her badge - not that I can remember anyway but I was much younger then and probably able to deal with things better! LOL.
I agree with your post content regarding inefficiency of many governmental departments, local or national.Having said that I did get mine renewed in Warwickshire with no problem.
Local council hubs ,often based in libraries or community centres, are excellent.
My guess is they have a target to reduce the number of badges but as usual they end up penalising the honest people that really need them and the cheats are good at getting around the rules.
Wouldn't surprise me. I just worry that the people they put off are the elderly who generally can't use computers very well - even I am not so good as I used to be - but that's because of eyesight. I know you can get someone to do it for you but what about people who don't have someone who can take the time to go and sort things out? As you say it is another case of penalising the honest where anyone who wants to cheat the system will take the time and effort to do so. Still, I'd rather be honest.
I have applied on behalf of 2 friends on line recently but one was wheelchairbound and the other fulfilled the "can you walk length of 2 double decker buses without assistance or resting?" ( paraphrased).Both badges arrived within 2 weeks. Renewal seems to be the same process. I expect it depends on the whim of your local authority.
You are supposed to set up an account in the potential badge holders name but I used my 2 email addresses as they had none. If I ever need a blue badge,I'll have to ask someone else to apply formine!!
Yes it seems it does depend on the local authority. Thing with ours is if you want to go and see them to take in the proof of disability - even at their Hubs in various towns there is no disabled parking nearby which means your spouse has to drop you off and then go and park up to a mile away - silly really - you would have thought they would have a few disabled spots for visitors nearby wouldn't you?
Just be sure they keep their proof of disability safe fro when the time comes to re new in 3 years time because you cannot rely on getting copies from your GP or relying on the local authority keeping reference of it.
Once you have managed to find all the paperwork it takes 10 mins at the Hub as my neighbour said and then you get the new card within 4 days - so that's great service.
When I applied for mine , after providing lots of letters etc I had to go before a lady to assess me. She was actually very helpful and I did quite quickly get my badge. Not sure when to renew but not next year. There is a scoring system and most of it is computer based.
You usually have to re-new every 3 years. so if it's not next year Bob it will be the year after. Hope it's easier for you - just remember to keep all relevant paperwork safe yourself and not rely on any one else being able to find it for you these days.
Just to say that on line renewals can take up to 3 months apparently - I am sure they don't generally but that is the warning online in this area so bear this in mind and try not to leave it to the last minute - though if you do just get your paperwork together and get to one of your council hubs and it will probably take you 10 mins and a wait of 4 days for your new badge.
while I was waiting for a disabled designated space to be become vacant at the local hospital, someone tapped on my window and said you can use the main car park, show your badge at reception(only clock needs to be displayed) and you don’t have to pay! Cost is irrelevant, its distance!! I have the joy of reapplying in may next year and for PIP renewal also, what joy! Take care 🦊x
It's up to local councils now to give blue badges and since they are all short of money, they refuse as many as possible. I had trouble when it all went online. I never got a reminder and got done for parking outside a sh op when my badge had run out. It's now settled down and the last renewal was straightforward. I get PIP with no end date but they don't seem to take that into account. As for benefits, it doesn't matter if you've had a leg amputated. Benefits are not given by what's wrong but by how it affects you. If you can live normally with a prosthesis then you don't qualify for benefits. Only if it seriously affects how you can do things ; I quote "repeatedly, safely and without pain"
Sorry to hear of the blue badge experience you had with renewal. As for the amputated leg my nephew is unable to do all those things safely and without pain and has had a lot of trouble - even when we all clubbed together and bought what we thought was a real up to the minute prosthesis for him. The accident happened when he was 17 - he is ow 52 and hasn't been able to work for many years now. He gets the benefits but still has to re-apply after a certain time or go for interview. Unless the NHS decide that they can operate again and sork miracles with the stump he was left with he is only going to get worse and so far the NHS has come up with nothing.
That's a real shame but the DWP do think that with modern inventions people could have improved lives or be capable of working from home. WHO is going to employ anyone with serious health problems? I had to renew mine every 2 years until when I was 64,they suddenly decided my spinal problems were probably permanent.
My new badge arrived this morning. It had expired because of circumstances at the time due for renewal after the first 3 years. A lady from Age UK came to the house, photographed me and the documents required and sent them off at the beginning of the month. Super service.
Brilliant I had forgotten that Age UK would help with this sort of thing and I know a lot of elderly people would not want to ask for help - thinking of it as charity but I will bear this in mind when I hear of anyone else having any problems.
Totally agree with how difficult this kind of thing is becoming. I have just had the joy of applying for my sisters Blue Badge which is actually not due until October and already knew it was going to be really difficult with age related problems. Firstly they did not like the photo so had to redo that twice then another call to make payment and then….. you are too early it is ready but we cannot post for a few more weeks!
I explained that we were going on holiday in November first since 2018 and that where we re going requires sight of her Blue Badge valid at the time we will be there or she will have to undergo and pay for a medical whilst there. Blue Badge were ‘understanding’ but the usual jobsworth.
This has proved to be a timely and exhausting process which given advancing years and illness is doubtful will be able to execute in 3 years time God willing we are still here 😒
Sorry to hear this has been so difficult for you. Hopefully next time won't be so difficult. Just remember that Age Concern can help. I am going to start telling all the oldies I know about this and just hope they won't forget - I am amazed I have remembered all day!
Thank you I wouldn’t mind quite so much but she has used a Blue Badge for as long as they have been around you would think all of her details would or should be lurking around somewhere and the nature of the effects of her disability will not and cannot(if only) improve.
Blue Badges are issued by the Local Authority and in my experience, the renewal is automatic. There does seem to be disparity in what counts for eligibility, stemming from the inclusion of hidden disabilities. For example, being in danger from traffic or in a car park is one area of eligibility. However, if you look at the visual disability certification, you have to be severely sight impaired - that means blind - to get a Blue Badge, whereas another Local Authority may accept sight impaired, meaning that part of your visual field is absent. If you have a child that is autistic, that can be sufficient for a Blue Badge. I've no idea if that applies to the big increase in adults who say they are in the spectrum.
Empty disabled spaces may mean that the Local Authority - such as Devon and Cornwall - don't provide free parking for Blue Badges. You will pay the normal parking rate and get one hour additional to the time that you paid for. Bristol on the other hand, gives free parking usually for as long as you wish. Bear in mind if you're are visiting the South West.
That seems to be the norm now. I was actually referring to the disabled spaces in the supermarket and disabled spaces provided in our county town in the town centre that we do not pay for. Normally if we get there any time after 08.30 they are full but just now we can get a space at any time.
I've recently renewed Mum's blue badge. It lapsed when she moved over to live with us. She had been with one authority and now another. The process was really simple online and the new card came through very quickly. I wonder why it's harder for some areas to get right than others.
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