Hi I'm a new member, has anyone had a blue badge and at renewal has had to have an assessment, what should I expect ?

[andrea1970]

[Lruk]

Hi Andrea, I have only recently been awarded a blue badge, which I had to have an assessment for. My assessment included a chat about what my specific difficulties were, why I wanted a blue badge and what I would use it for and then I had to walk along a corridor so the assessor could see how I walked and how far I could manage. The whole thing was very relaxed and positive. Good luck, Linda.

[Shadows-walker]

Hi I recently recieved blue badge , had a OT came to house to assess my needs with equipment gave me a phone number to ring for a blue badge ,I can walk but it just takes ages for me to get anywhere I am told I am very persistent and I still make myself walk up a hill every week (,the same one )the doctor laughs at me but sometime I am not to bad when I get to the top ,I used to be able to run up it sometimes I am almost crawling sometimes but at least I can still get up it ,anyway back to the badge they filled form out over phone and put down auto immune issues after a reeled off list of conditions they sent me form I signed it sent it back and the badge arrived 1 week later ,I am told that it was really quick ,but it was very straight forward . Sometimes it's not the distance it's the time it takes you good luck x

[TheAuthor]

Hi andrea1970

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? My wife has a blue badge and all I did for her was to fill in the forms for the local council (with a cheque of course!), and they sorted it all out! We never received a visit or any inquiries at all, unless they wrote to her GP?

I genuinely hope that you manage to ascertain your with no problems.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[Shadows-walker in reply to TheAuthor]

Hi ken why a cheque ?do you have to pay in England ? If you do see if that is not another reason you should move to wales Chris x

[TheAuthor in reply to Shadows-walker]

Hi Chris, yeah! Derbyshire County Council charge £10 for your blue badge, I believe that most English councils charge for it! Living in Wales sounds a better option!

Ken x

[Shadows-walker in reply to TheAuthor]

Yep free prescriptions as well ,the only down size I think with health service we have to travel for big hospitals but if you are on a low income you can claim your costs back , I never have done that but I know a lot do . Also if your really poorly go by helicopter but obviously you don't won't that ride . I do have a couple of friends that still have consultants English hospitals adenbrooks is one but she got the welsh assemble to put in writing she could continue with her consultant there and they pay for that and whatever treatment he says whether it is on our list or not as with every area we have a postcode system on what drugs they will give , but if you go to the NHS ombudsman they will over rule in some situations we had that with my dad ,you just have to know where to go ., and as I lived and breathed the NHS here and in London for the best part of 30 years because of my ex I know where to go sometimes although things have changed a bit in the last 7 years . Has the sun been shining in Derbyshire today ,we have had rain but humid . Not that I have been out as I am trying to be good and sort out my eyes I saw opthamoligist last week and I have blepharitis ,saw GP last night took a A4 sheet with me filled both sides the GP asked if he could have it as I have listed everything that's going on with me also told me they will support me with ESA CAB asked me to check with them ,not sure why I don't really understand benifit bit but I expect I will survive everybody else does so not thinking about all that to much , just consentrating on getting well . speak soon Chris x

[TheAuthor in reply to Shadows-walker]

Yes, the sun had been shining most of the day in Derbyshire, but the weather forecast for the region says heavy rain from Thursday!

Hope that you are well

Ken x

[Ginsing]

,Morning Andrea,

Welcome to the site, I hope the answers were of help to you. Have you looked around the site we do have a wealth of information waiting to be accessed. Have a look at our Mother site:

fibroaction.org quite a lot of help full material or the other site to look at is

healthunlocked.com .

Have you any other areas we can help you with?

Do let us know if you were happy with the answers you received

Have a good day and keep smiling

xgins.

[Artyrosie]

I didn't have any assessment when I renewed mine, but I know there's been a lot of concern about people having badges who don't really need them. And haven't we all seen perfectly fit and able-bodied people leap out of cars in disabled spaces and stride off? It does make me cross. Perhaps it varies between local authorities? I'm amazed that they'd send an OT as this would cost money in these straitened times ....

[Betty67]

I have had blue badge for several years (10+) and dependant on getting DLA. been assessed for DLA twice and both times someone came to my house and I had to walk up my stairs. My heart rate increased and so I "passed". Assessment not stressful and both times person said they would be recommending me for acceptance. Stressful before hand

[Offcut]

If you have mobility DLA/PIP then you should not need an assessment however if you do not, make sure you have as much medical evidence with you for your case. The Blue Badge comes out of your council budget and they do not like paying anything out now.

[Scouser58 in reply to Offcut]

Hello to all Blue Badge Users, well where I live the blue badge has gone up from£2.50 to £10.00 and now have to have a photo dierct into the system, by sitting infront of a camera in the council offices, and showing all the necessary forms as listed on the application. The photo is terrible, and not very clear. I was not assessed, nor had any one visit, East Cheshire Council charge enough £10!!! for 3 years at a time. If they wanted me to climb stairs, they would have to carry me,bungalow living is a lot less atress on the knees and joints, thank goodness.

So my next challange will be to find out where I can buy/get RADAR keys from , so I can have access to the disabled toilets.

Well around this country the blue badge system is run differently, so nothing new there then.

To all, take care, rest well and be happy when you can be, ttfn

[lesley1829 in reply to Scouser58]

I got a radar key for my "ex" a few years ago from Taunton council. I think I had to take proof of his disabability payments. It cost £5. - For some reason I still have it!!!!!

[Jeff1958]

I believe the assessments are for people not claiming a disability benefit , as we have had medicals to confirm our disabilities , I also had to pay £10 this time for the badge , and its worth every penny , our biggest problem is able bodied people using disabled badges , but the clamp down by the authorities is about time , it as been abused for too long .

[Offcut in reply to Jeff1958]

100% behind you on that one.

I made my own stickers for those that park in shopping centre Disabled parking and do not display the Blue Badge.

Failure to Display

Please display your disability badge. This facility has been kindly provided for the use of those that are in need of this space because it is close to the premises.

If you are not a holder of a Disability Badge then you are not showing any consideration to those that are not fortunate to be in good health or mobility, and should be ashamed of yourself for parking here.

Issued by :

Disability Parking Action Group

Bit radical I know but it get my back up!

Be Well

[Hidden]

Hi andrea1970

Welcome to our friendly Fibro Forum

I have been doing some digging to find out if there was a guide to Blue Badge assessment for you and whilst doing that I found this document which is quite long but explains it in very fine detail from council boroughs, it more of a report than an advisory document and was produced in 2012. The rules are different now for PIP claimants so if you were on DLA and are now on PIP this could be why they are assessing you. Plus, each council borough decides how they assess for blue badge. This means your local council web page may have some information relating to it.

I found the report (link below) very interesting so have given you it anyway

assets.dft.gov.uk/publicati...

I got this link from disabilityrightsuk.org/blue...

...................... which you may find handy as you tap in your postcode and it will take you to your local council and relevant pages (They also offer the link that I've provided above)

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

I hope this information is helpful for you Andrea and if you have any other Q's please ask away as someone is always listening and will be along soon to help or support if they can.

Wishing you wellness and send you fluffie hugs and smiles

Looking forward to seeing you around

xxxsianxxx