Driving with COPD

[Mikefever]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post, very helpful. Can anyone give me advice about filling a renewal form for my blue badge please?

[HuwieHex]

I did mine by telephone. What is yor Council Local Authority?

[Watfordgirl]

Hello, I did mine over the phone as well. Applied for the original by phone - when she'd finished asking questions, she suggested I should have Attendance Allowance too! Felt I ought to go and lie down.

Good luck.

[Ennyl]

I used telephone I found it much easier you can do it online I believe x

[y_not]

I used the form which, because I was receiving DLA (and later PIP) it just went through on the nod.

My son (30 something) also has a blue badge which I applied for on his behalf. I mention this because he plays football, jogs daily, cycles and is generally very, very healthy!

Then how the hell can he have a blue badge you ask? His right arm was amputated around 18 months ago, he now drives a modified automatic and the ignition key is on the right of the steering column. He was shown how to start the car BEFORE getting in, that means having the door wide open! I put this to the authority and they simply accepted that, whilst he has no mobility issues he DOES NEED a wide bay to open the door.

Even if you are not in receipt of benefits you can still make a case and, unlike PIP assessments, stand a reasonable chance of success on the first application.

As you already have a badge then it should just be a formality.

[lynnekay]

Be honest! However, remember to state the level of discomfort and pain that you experience. I can walk 20 metres on a good day but then get really breathless which is very, very uncomfortable because of the associated aspects such as palpitations, head pounding, unable to get air in/out of lungs, urgent need to urinate etc etc. I explained all this on my form and got the Blue Badge with no difficulty. If you're struggling with the form some GP surgeries have Care Advisers who can help you fill in forms for benefits, blue badge etc

[Mikefever in reply to lynnekay]

Hi lynnekay. Thanks for your post very helpful. I found when you said about the urgent need to urinate very interesting because I thought I was the only one who suffered this, do you think it is part of the fight or flight syndrome?

[lynnekay in reply to Mikefever]

Yes, it is. I asked my GP because it was giving me problems ie needing to rush to the loo when least able, and she told me it's because of the adrenaline that floods the body when you get breathless. It prepares the body for flight or fight and tries to limit less necessary processes (eg circulation to extremities, digestion, bladder & bowel control) so that all available oxygen in the blood supply goes to the brain and heart.

I think that few people admit to the urine problem, so hope this is reassuring

[Mikefever in reply to lynnekay]

Many thank,s Lynnekay.

[Offcut]

All Councils used to do their own thing but they got together for a sort of plan of action on giving out Blue Badges. It was agreed that if you are on mobility PIP/DLA then you automatically qualify. But they have the power to give them if the persons needs meet the same or equal criteria of PIP/DLA in their mobility.

I had to fight for a disability bus pass because "I did not look ill enough!"

[ladytelita]

I believe it still varies from one county council to another. Certainly it's the case down here. When I first applied I was not on PIP or DLA so didn't expect success but applied anyway. I filled in the form and sent it off. They rang me and had a chat on the phone. About a week after I received the blue badge through the post.

I now receive PIP mobility at the enhanced rate so when I need to reapply next year it'll be easier.

The other thing I've found that varies is the effectiveness of the badge from one county to another. In my home county of Cornwall, blue badge holders have to pay car parking fees unless the have a tax disc marked nil etc. Of course we don't have discs anymore so you have to register your car on their database in order to avoid cost. Yet just a few miles away in Devon, any car with a blue badge is exempt from paying fees in council run car parks (except for a few places in Exeter and Plymouth. So it is worth checking the rules in your own area and surrounding counties you may visit.

P.