HAVE OTHERS HAD PROBS RE BLUE BADGE RENEWAL

[ladyyingtong]

HAS ANYONE OUT THERE HAD PROBLEMS RENEWING THEIR BLUE BADGE. MINE IS DUE TO BE RENEWED AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DOC NO LONGER HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FORM. DECISIONS ARE MADE BY SOCIAL WORKERS ETC. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ME - HAVE NEVER MET ME THEREFORE THEY WILL NEVER SEE THE DAYS WHEN I AM CRYING WITH THE PAIN OR EXHAUSTED FROM LACK OF SLEEP AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT GOES WITH FIBRO.

[Celticmoon]

Oh GOD!!! NOT ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR US TO DEAL WITH!!!

Poor you. I really feel for you as my blue badge is a life-line, as I'm sure yours is... I don't go out much but when I do my BB makes all the difference. Sometimes it's not the distance that is the main problem but rather having the width to get out of the car... When you can twist and you have crutches etc you NEED that.

I still maintain that the Blue Badge system needs revamping. There should be different badges for wheelchair users - a priority if you like - then badges for people who may be able to walk but have difficulty with the normal width of a parking space. Prioritising badges in this way would at least help those in need. To start putting SOCIAL WORKERS who, as you say, have never met you in charge of this is ridiculous!!

Is there ever going to be an end to all this awful crap we are having to put up with?

I will be asking the CAB about BB renewal - I'm lucky mine isn't due for another 3 years as I just got a new one before all this nonsense started but the CAB have been so very kind and helpful to me that when I'm there again soon I shall ask.

Maybe you could ask your doctor what you should do. It does seem quite ridiculous but then so does so much recently. I think your GP should be able to say that you require both a BB and also benefit - after all it's a GP that signs you off sick in the first place!!!!!

Please let us know how you get on.

Gentle hugs xx

[ladyyingtong]

HI CELTIC MOON - MANY THANKS FOR YOURS. JUST KNOWING THAT

OTHERS ARE IN SYMPATHY HELPS. HAVE HAD BB FOR YEARS NOW

BUT HAVE MOVED HOUSE INTO DIFFERENT COUNCIL AND DIFFERENT DOC. CAB SOUNDS LIKE A HELPFUL MOVE - WILL THINK ABOUT THIS. IT'S SO DAFT EXPECTING SOCIAL WORKERS (WHO ARE PROBABLY SNOWED UNDER WITH OTHER STUFF) - TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN IT'S YOUR DOC WHO REALLY SEES THE BIGGER PICTURE.

HUGS X

[jolow]

Hi,I have not had a b.b before even though i have not walked more than 30 meters in over a year.I have arthritis and fibro and other things that making walking very painful and difficult but i only applied in August this year.If you get high rate DLA then entitlement is automatic if not then like me you will have to be accessed via an occupational therapist who decides if you should be awarded the b.b if unsuccessful you then have the right to appeal.I have not heard anything about social workers being involved with this process.The council you are under send the forms to nearest o.p who will then contact you about your appointment time and date.Mine is on the 27th of this month and i will post result on here.I am under the Birmingham city council and to process the forms to get this far has taken this long so its not a quick route but the only one.It may be quicker for you as yours is a renewal.I sent in letter from my doctor 3 lines which cost £20 also copy of prescription and letter from hospital rhumey department also in support group on esa but i still need to be assessed via o.p.Good luck with renewal x jo

[ladyyingtong in reply to jolow]

Good luck with this. Sounds like they are trying to make things so

complicate that we just give up!!

[mandyd61]

Good luck with it, mine was refused because I can walk 80mtrs unaided, they don't see the days when I can't even put a foot out of bed let alone one foot in front of the other to walk, I am now in the appeal process. M

[ladyyingtong in reply to mandyd61]

Thanks for reply. It's awful the way the system has been changed and we

have to depend on peoplewho have never seen us - and you have my

sympathy - wish they could see us on the day we just can't walk. All we

want is a bit of independance and normality in our lives. Good luck with

your appeal.

Ladyyingtong

[Celticmoon]

I can understand why there was a need to tighten up the Blue Badge system as it did seem flawed...

Whether it is other people's BB's that some are borrowing I don't know but I've seen so many people hop out of their cars while displaying a BB and then run, trot or walk briskly towards the supermarket or wherever they're going without a care in the world. The last time I was at a supermarket two "boy-racers" parked next to me (with a BB!!) then proceeded to jump into trolleys and take turns to push each other around the car park!!!

While I do (of course) realise that not disabilities are visible it does seem to be an on-going problem, which has caused problems for genuine people of course - there's always the price like this when a system is "improved".

I also think that there is a possibility that BBs may have been awarded when they shouldn't have been... ... ... I know when I first got mine some years ago now all I had to do was to ring up and answer 3 questions. I just said "no" I couldn't walk that distance, "no" I couldn't do this or that and bingo - it was in the post!! I'd waited years and years to apply for one believing it would be much more stressful and difficult and was almost horrified at the simplicity of becoming eligible.

However... I think this system, like so many of these other new ones, is all wrong.

A note from your GP should be sufficient. Perhaps there should be a choice of pathway to "qualify" you for a BB??? Whether a GP or OT or whoever sanctions the BB it doesn't matter - just picking the right one for your particular circumstance seems sensible. When you have a disability you are much more likely to be known well by your GP and a note from them to confirm your suitability for a BB would seem to avoid burdening an already over-loaded system to me. It would be quick, simple and straightforward while referrals cause waiting lists, problems of getting TO the appointments etc and this all increases costs - for EVERYONE!! At least that's what I think...

[sadoldred]

I have had my Blue Badge about 4weeks now, a first timer! You have to fill it in just like you do your DLA or ESA forms. Put everythin on paper then send it, some are called for medicals but not everyone. You also pay £10 when you are accepted for it.

[ladyyingtong]

HI Jessam - I totally agree with you. It's ridiculous that someone who doesn't

know you - has never met you - and who does not have access to your

medical records should decide on the information on a piece of paper

whether you should or should not have this badge which we all know helps

us have a modicum of independance!! Don't let them win!! Persevere. I

have not applied for DLA as I just cannot face the length of the form they

send you! Good luck

ladyyingtong

[goldwing]

JUST RENEWED MY BADGE, YOU HAVE TO GET MIDDLE RATE CARE AND HIGH MOBILITY TO GET WITHOUT DOC REPORT, BUT AS I WAS RENEWING THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTACT MY DOC. JUST SENT IT. LIVE IN LANCASHIRE AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. MY SIS LIVES IN WARWICKSHIRE AND SHE HAS TO PAY £10 TOO. DIFFERENT COUNCILS I THINK HAVE DIFFERENT RULES.

[ladyyingtong]

many thanks for reply goldwing. will keep you up to speed.

ladyyingtong