Hi Everyone!
I'm the BLF Communications Officer for Scotland & Northern Ireland.
I just wondered if anyone is having difficulty renewing, or applying for a blue badge?
If so, (Or if not ) could you also tell us what country are you writing from?
Thanks!
Hi Stitch, thanks for that. Very glad to hear you're not had any problems.
It's not actually me personally, i'm the Communications Officer for Scot/Northern Ireland and it's come to our attention in the office here that some people are having trouble securing a new blue badge. If anyone's in that boat, it'd be great to hear from you.
I have just got a new badge here in scotland. No problems at all. On saying that, our council charges £20 for it so will be eager for the revenue.
Thanks Ingy. Where are you based?Has it always cost £20?
I got mine with very little trouble a few weeks ago and cost me £10.
Thanks Zaney. Where are you from?
West Yorkshire here 
I'm in the process of applying for one, so will keep you informed of the outcome.
Had to re new mine in January and used the on line application which I had to do three times, it says it should take 15 minutes but it was much more than that, it is more like filling I a benifits form and you have to upload a digital photo which has to be re sized. Once the application actually went through it came ina couple of weeks, here in South Bucks it cost £2 for 3 years.
I live in Wales, Iv been told unless you are in receipt of DLA youv got no chance of getting one (Blue Badge) As I cant even get from one end of the high street to the other, have to park in two car par parks, (and pay twice, obviously) anyone know anything different ? Blue badge would make life less stressfull, both physically, and emotionally.
Hi serene1
I live in Wales and have a Blue Badge ... thought about it carefully before I completed the form. Instead of my usual optimistic self, underplaying the problems to others, I was brutally honest about the distance I can walk before being breathless - some days I am better than that, but I knew I needed to be realistic. No problem in getting it. And it also helped me be more honest with family when having bad days.
Hi carolyn
I first went to see about a blue badge 2 years ago in paisley scotland. My council said if i had DLA (mobility) at high rate i got it automatically (which i didnt at the time as i had just applied for it )but when i told her i had COPD she said that COPD was an automatic YES and all i had to do was get a letter from my doctor telling them i had COPD and i got my badge no problem. From jan this year they have started charging £20.00 for the privaledge of being registered with a disability ( which isnt bad ).Hope this helps
Here in Wales if your are in receipt of DLA you will get it automatically. Otherwise it all depends on your application. It used to be £2 for three years, but from April it is free. New style badges are being issued that makes it hard for them to forge, and yes there are a lot of forged blue badges around Wales that the authorities should seek out and in my opinion those using forged blue badges should have their cars taken and destroyed. But that is another story. The first time I applied for my blue badge it was turned down. After speaking to a doctor, who advised I should reapply I went to social services to help with the form, and supplied a doctors letter to back this up. This enabled me to get the blue badge. As said I think your chances of getting a badge depends on area.
Hi Carolyn, I live in Moray and when I mentioned it to my doctor about a year ago she said it was highly unlikely I would qualify, so I've never applied. I'm not on any benefits and I've had no success trying to get a free bus pass either. Moray used to give them on a doctors letter apparently, but they stopped that. I get really frustrated about there being no help for those who are not on benefits - maybe if I got a bit of assistance now when I'm normally not too bad, it would lengthen the time before I need more help. I don't need a Blue Badge all the time, but obviously there are times throughout the year when it would be invaluable.
Hi Carolyn,
yes i had problems getting a blue badge and just accepted it until i went into town and saw someone running along the high street to go to their car and then when they pulled away another person parked in the spot and ran along the high street out of view. both ad blue badges. Although i understand that some disabilities are "invisible" i could not understand how i was refused a blue badge when i know i will never run again...... i asked my council for an explanation as to my rejection but all they did was sent me another application form..... thanks to some great support from people on here i have re-applied and am awaiting to find, if this time, i get the much needed badge as i have not been out, other than to work ( who have arranged a parking space next to the door for me), since before xmas.
sorry! forgot to say i am in berkshire.
Hi Carolyn
Cant even get a bus pass form North Ayrshire Council let alone a DLA Blue badge , have angina and COPD but NO Help from local authority kept for the drug users ( i guess as they get free public transport) through social services.
yes bit of a rant, but why should self inflicted people get help and people with health issues don't?????
Hi again Carolyn,
Following this blog I've decided to have a go at applying for a Blue Badge. The application form came today. Will let you know how I get on, though to be honest I'm not expecting much success.
Carrie
Good luck CarrieMe!
Hi Carolyn
as i dont quilify for DLA cant get a blue badge ( no longer have a car )or even a bus pass , but Drug user can get free transport via there local council, How come they get but the sick dont'
By the way North ayrshire is area ia'm talking about.
Drug users get far too much, best I not start on this topic, but it makes me spit when I pay eg £5.10 for a day return home to Fraserburgh, when so many of them travel for nothing & pan-Scotland too.I would add certain folk on disability benefits that are shy of work (sorry have never worked) & appear to have a disability that makes them pretty gile & fit. The 'work shy' ones I know to speak to so I'm not generalising.
Thanks for all comments, really helpful!
Hi, I am new to this site, have just applied for a badge will let you know
Thanks Carlo. Will this be the first time you've applied for a blue badge? Where abouts are you based?
yes this is my first application to Monmouthshire County Council.
Thanks everyone, that's really helpful.
You might have see our recent press coverage about blue badges. We drew attention to the case of Agnes Bruce in Paisley and by doing so, Agnes's case was reviewed and Renfrewshire council is reconsidering how it processes and words its communications.
BLF Scotland is planning to engage with all of the 32 local authorities in Scotland to make sure they remember how debilitating a lung condition can be when considering blue badge applications.
Councils now seem to use PIP/DLA mobility Points as the criteria to handing out Blue Badges. The old rule of 50 metres has been changed to a stupid 20 metres under the new PIP. However they have to take in the ruling that states the distance is not if it can be walked but if it is done with "severe discomfort" also.
I had a problem getting a disability bus pass because "I did not look ill?"
you have to be getting standard or enhanced mobility component or pip just go to your local council they will givr you a form fill it in and take it with 2 passport size photos
Hi, I have bronchiectasis and asthma and get tired walking distances , I also applied for a blue badge because I was told I should be entitled , but all the questions seem to ask about mobility and walking nothing about breathlessness or exhaustion.
As I can walk they said no people with other minor problems get them obviously breathing isn't important.
Blue badge
Can I get a blue badge?
Blue badge
