Blue badge

[1968]

Whats the criteria for a blue badge, would me having classed as severve emphysema grant me one?

[leo60]

I've been meaning to ask this question also! so look forward to your replies! Thanks xx

[Patsy164]

I am still in the process my council are very strict. If you go online and fill out a quick questionnaire it says you may be eligible or not. So worth a try. If eligible you have to upload your passport letter from hospital with diagnosis and something with your address on as proof of where you live. If you are given one you Then pay a fee and they send you one. I did have one before but then got turned down as the criteria changed but my health has deteriorated so I am hoping I can get one.

[sassy59]

Hi David, check out GOV.UK for the criteria. You may well be eligible. Good luck to you. Xxxx

[Croydonia]

Hi 1968, I have a blue badge as I have severe COPD, and the advice I can give you is to enclose with the application form as many copies of all relevant information. Eg, appointment letter for the copd clinic, reports of what is said at your hospital appointment, prescriptions, and a full explanation of how you are on your worst day. Don’t be worried about putting too much info in, it all helps! Good luck with it.

[Michele-Cat in reply to Croydonia]

I agree, it's very important to provide letters from consultants etc. confirming the extent of the lung damage.

Whilst I was in hospital 3 years ago with a broken pelvis, my breathing was of more concern to the doctors and they sent me for a CT scan. I was informed my emphysema was now so severe that if (as they suspected at the time) further scans revealed I had early stage cancer, neither chemotherapy or radiation treatment would provide a positive outcome.

Although I applied for a blue badge mainly to help whilst I was recovering from the broken pelvis, I believe the consultant's letter confirming the grim outlook for my lungs was what swayed things in my favour. I wasn't even made to take a walking test at the assessment and the very nice man from the council said he was granting me a blue badge status for life.

Last week I had to re-apply as my current badge expires next month and within 24 hours I had a phone call and e-mail confirming it's already been ordered.

[1968 in reply to Michele-Cat]

So sorry to hear this sad news regarding the cancer.

[Lizzric2]

Apply on line with photo. I have severe copd and didnt have a problem. We do get pip. And you re apply think every couple of years. Hubby does it for me costs think £10. It is pretty quick.

[1968 in reply to Lizzric2]

What is PIP?

[rajram in reply to 1968]

personal independent payment

[Lizzric2 in reply to 1968]

What rajram said. If you have not applied. If your having trouble getting from a to b arc worth applying for. I got higher rate and we were able to apply for a mobility car.

[Bkin]

they will be looking at breathlessness and how it affects walking, as mentioned check .gov site and apply through your local council. You could phone your local council and request a form be sent.

gov.uk/apply-blue-badge

gov.uk/blue-badge-scheme-in...

[corriena]

With Norfolk cc its automatic acseptance if you get pip/DLA.

[Lizzric2 in reply to corriena]

Same in birmingham

[COPD123491 in reply to Lizzric2]

Same in N.Ireland.

Good luck

Kevin

[joyce74]

I am an oxygen user and use a walker outdoors to put my cannister in I also broke a hip nearly 5 years ago and had no problem getting one.

[K-Kilcoyne]

If you check your local Council website, you should be able to find information on your areas criteria.

I think that your doctor's surgery would be able to tell criteria too.

[Bronchi1]

In England severe respiratory disease is one reason you can be given one but not in Scotland. Here the law has not changed and its still a case that if you can walk you dont get one. So, I'm a prisoner in the house or car to wherever as 5-10 mins cold air cold causes my lungs to flare up. No waiting at bus stops or meeting friends in town and no walks . We are all behind! Good luck, you cant lose anything sticking an application in.

[Sgt_Pepper]

I applied for one without much hope of success but a week later it popped through my letterbox! I don't know if it is a national ruling but in my area (North Somerset) GP's play no part - it is purely down to the local council. When I first enquired of my GP he told me that he could not help but advised me to stress difficulty of walking any distance in my application! Here mis a link gov.uk/apply-blue-badge.

[Joy123]

Hi, it’s nothing to do with what you have wrong with you but how far you can walk. It’s quite a short distance, think the length of a bus, to qualify for a blue badge. Joy x

[MoyB]

I don't have a Blue Badge currently as my general health has improved, but I had one for 3 yrs as I was struggling to walk due to COPD, asthma and bronchiectasis and frequent vertigo attacks.

I was required to attend for an assessment and was asked to walk down a short hill (outside the centre) and then back up again. I wasn't very good on the day and needed my Ventolin. I was at a very low ebb. The person who assessed me was very kindly towards me and didn't make me feel awkward. Her expression told me I hadn't quite made up enough points. She questioned me about a few things and seemed to be really trying to help me by drawing out the right answers. I explained that although my husband could drop me off at places (eg the medical centre) he was frightened to leave me unattended as the vertigo used to come on really suddenly and I would be rendered unable to walk at all. 'Aha!' she said and ticked a box. That was the end of the interview and I got the badge really quickly after that.

From what I have read on different groups and web sites, each council seems to have its own criteria for issuing the badges. Although there are the Govt. guidelines, it seems to me that some areas hand them out quite willingly whilst others make it more difficult.

It's worth having one if you can. I felt that my condition (mainly the vertigo) had improved so much that I could no longer justify having one and didn't want to use spaces that were needed by others who were struggling more than me.

Good luck with it. As someone else has said, there's nothing lost by trying.

[Aingeful]

I have IPF and have a blue badge. My daughter is a Welfare Rights officer and did all the paper work for me,no problem.Contact your local Welfare Rights office they will help. X

[B0xermad]

I definitely think you should,its also about how far you can walk without getting breathless and I have a blue badge for emphysema and bronchiectasis and asthma.good luck

[KJS15]

I have one but it was a bit difficult to get it. I applied online, then had a telephone interview then had to go to an assessment centre to show how ai was affected and they asked me to walk around the corridor with them. I was awaiting the installation of oxygen so I took my pulse oximeter to show how much my sats dropped when walking. It varies council to council

[Lynnecal42]

Yes I'm sure you would be eligible for a blue badge. I've had mine for 2 years now and it has been a life saver. Go for it and good luck.

[1968]

Many thanks, im on it today.

[Response]

My mum recently got one - the distance she could walked dramatically decreased since Feb and during lock down has gotten really bad. She has lung issues (bronchietctasis) and is elderly (can't stand for herself without tipping) and has dementia.

The council mentioned how I filled in a lot of detail on the form - apparently most people don't, so make sure you show details e.g. any consultant letter that talks about your breathing and any hospital admissions, say how far you can walk - in detail e.g. can you get up the stairs without stopping, can you walk around the garden - how long e.g. my mum was 15ms 1 m.

If you're honest and give a true picture of yourself, then if you need a badge you should be able to get one.

BTW - the check list says can you walk - and I ticked yes for my mum at first which cancelled her out, but then I read it again and it clarifies that you can walk but not far, so be careful not to rule yourself out like I did initially for my mum

[Grayjay]

If you attend a Respiratory clinic I'm sure the Nurse will help you to fill in the form. We have a place where we live called DIAL HOUSE, it's a drop in disability centre for support. Maybe you have something similar. The application form can be downloaded from directgov.uk

[catlover54]

My doctor advised me to fill out the form as I felt on a bad day, not when I am feeling good and could walk further. I had no problem getting blue badge and the Coucil very quick in sending. Good luck.

[vittorio]

It should do !, I have emphysema with severe asthma and have had a blue badge for four years ...yes the " rules are strict , and I use a wheel chair as walking really does defeat me , along with stairs !... and unfortunately have been hospitalised 37 times in ten years , which I must admit is alot ! .. the last was at the mighty " Royal Free" In London , as a suspected CONVID CARRIER ! , but fortunately it was just , yet another huge exacibation of my condition . so good luck ..

[Bardear]

On the form I completed it asked " how far can you walk" and then suggests lengths i.e. 250 yards etc.,or less than .... I wrote down 100 yards (109 metres or just over 300 feet)) because remember if you state 250 yards (228 metres or 750 feet) they will think you can walk ANOTHER 250 yards back as well - making 500 yards (458 metres or 1500 feet) in all.

Understate your walking capabilites because even though the paperwork doesn't really ask the question of how far can you walk on your worst day, you must answer the questions in regard to your worst day.

The badge costs £10 and is renewable every 3 years or so at a cost again of £10.

Good luck and go for it.

lol

xxxx

[vittorio in reply to Bardear]

That was a brilliant answer about the return " walk" !!... I'VE NEVER GIVEN THAT ANY THOUGHT TO THAT WHEN ANSWERING THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION !! - THANKS BARDEAR !

[vittorio]

Yes , have a bash ! - I gave a massive amount of information regarding my 39 , yes 39 admissions in hospitals both here and abroad in the last ELEVEN YEARS with emphysemia / COPD etc plus , AND would you believe a copy of an X RAY of my lungs for their " Consultant Radiologist "to study ! , ( personally I very much doubt if these people WHO DEAL WITH THESE FORMS FOR A BLUE BADGE paid a large fee to get his / her opinion ! .). , in other words I submitted 186 pages of hospital information in various languages of other countries I have stayed in hospital , TOGETHER WITH 46 TELEPHONE NUMBERS of Doctors FOR THEM TO CHECK ! , They must have been overwhelmed with medical information about me , AND I REPEAT ALL THIS EVERY THREE YEARS . I have had a Blue Badge for five years , and hope I can retain this facility . As COPD etc is a " progressive illness , I really can't see things improving , and so I can only answer that particular question every time I am asked on the forms apply for a new one . WITH MY HISTORICAL HEALTH RECORD I'me afraid its rather obvious ...... - every three years . - GOOD LUCK ! ...