Hi, I want to put in a claim for a blue badge for my car.

[MandaM]

I have increasing problems with mobility due to breathlessness, rapid sometimes erratic heart rate on exercise, painful hip joints, fatigue, then clumsiness. I get VERY slow after only a few paces and after a bit if walking I'm really struggling. I can't go up stairs or hills without constant stopping. I'm not on any benefits at all. My GP said it's highly unlikely that I will get a blue badge as it's only for people who's conditions can't be treated and mine can be! HUH?? I have Lupus and a renal transplant etc. Has anyone had a successful claim for the blue badge and how did you manage it please?

[Yorkie12]

I have one but I had to claim p I p personal independence allowing first with your health problems might be worth trying to claim p I p

[MandaM in reply to Yorkie12]

What is P I P? I work part time and have a husband that works, so won't be able to claim benefits. Thank you.

[Footygirl]

Sorry to hear your problems. Sorry but sounds like your council is scaping money to fill in for cutbacks. It is disgraceful that anyone with your disibility has to jump through hoops unnecessarily for a piece of cardboard. No doubt it will be linked to car park fees as it is a loss for the council to let us park free.

What next? Paying for use of a scooter on the towns streets? Kick em whilst they are down or what? Most needy, vunerable people are fair game. The lengths these beaurocrats go to is amoral and makes me want to spit!

Nothing is at face value these days. Even the fact that you need to get an assessment for mobility is shocking.

Sorry MandaM, I hope you are able to get your badge, they really do help when out and about. Dont forget to get help to fill in your application form as that, too is not to be taken at face value. Ask the Citizens Advice Bureau for help.

I really feel for you

Good luck

OX

[MandaM in reply to Footygirl]

Thank you.

[jayfer]

Hi, you can claim pip even if working full time. It was known as DLA before the changes. You are assessed for mobility difficulties and help needed with personal care, cooking etc. You can find more on the internet about it

[MargaretGail]

Hi Mandam, I got my blue badge a whole year before I was awarded PIP. Countless people told me I couldn't get one but my hubby insisted we should apply. It was really easy, the assessment was useful for other issues and I had my badge within a month. My biggest issue was other people's opinion on my liklihood of success which was disheartening. Go for it

[Renu]

Hi, I had a disabled badge even before diagnosis of lupus as my muscles were weak (myopathy) and I struggled to walk, climb stairs, lift arms above shoulder levels etc. It has made a huge and positive difference for me. Good luck with your application.

Renu

[custardpot]

I have a blue badge but the rules have changed and I don't think mine will be renewed even though walking is getting more and more difficult.

[Kelfreem]

Hi, I applied for my blue badge before even looking at pip, I did it online in December, by feburary I had received my badge and did not have a medical, I do know that they did contact my gp though, so must have been happy with the report from them. my diagnosis is conective tissue disease, gastritis, rapid heart rate and palpitations (it's thought to be lupus, but not fully diagnosed first before applying). The council were very helpful and gave me the web address to apply. I found the process very easy, but I have heard it varies between councils. Put the application in and see what happens, like you I struggle with mobility and ths badge has helped me so much to get around more easily, good luck xx

[tired18]

Hi

Look up your local councils number on line for the department who deals with the application. Answer the questions over the phone. You may or may not be asked to attend a medical

If successful you provide them with a passport size photo and pay £10

The badge is then sent to in the post about 10 days later

Good look

[MandaM]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I will just have to give it a try. GPS only ever get involved they said if there is an appeal. I asked my GP as they don't really know me or my problems I wanted them to know I have some problems with walking around. If I go see them for something and I mention I have Lupus or transplant they say oh have you! Epic fail, don't they read notes or letters these days?

[jamg3916]

It seems to depend on your area, but anyone with a disability can apply for a Blue Badge. There is a form to fill in where you detail your problems with mobility. I got mine before I was able to claim any benefits. I had to pay £10, but all things considered that was the least of the issues. Mine has to be renewed every few years. You can put in a claim for PIP if you are working as it's not dependent on other income. I would suggest you take a look at some of the websites that offer help with form filling, Fightback is good, CAB are excellent Disability Rights is another website. Turn2Us is a web site that you can use to calculate if you are eligible for any benefits.

[MandaM in reply to jamg3916]

Thanks, I'll have a look at those websites. Can't see that I'm bad enough for benefits though. I'm not wheelchair reliant, walking stick or frame reliant either. I can dress myself, wash myself, cook etc. I'm just so fatigued, zombie like and achey, very slow in waking up properly my husband has to help by running my bath, bringing me breakfast in bed etc in order to help get me up and running for work so I am not late. He makes sure I have fluids and fruit for work, sometimes irons me some clothes. He cooks at night often if I'm too tired and have pain in my joints.

[jamg3916]

If you need assistance with self care....like you say.....and are very fatigued.....they are markers for PIP. Also the fatigue and ability to get around would be criteria for a badge. PIP is notoriously difficult to apply for but with professional guidance can be achieved. Good luck

[Diagnosed2012]

Hi, I was turned down, but I'd still say it's worth a go. Some posts on here say you have a better chance if you describe your worst days. It didn't work for me, but I had an awful assessor who was more interested in her lunch. I have lupus, fibromyalgia, fatigue, lost the sight in one eye, have to stay out of the sun, have psoriatic arthritis so acute I have expensive stelara injections, am dependent on depomedrol injections every three months so I can get out of bed and do my day job. She knew nothing about lupus and clearly didn't care. I'm in my early forties but look much younger, which probably didn't help. She kept saying "Well how bad is it". To which I replied, it's bad enough for me to need these injections and treatment. Without those, and a huge amount of painkillers, I'm reduced to crawling on the floor, and all manner of horrible things can happen as have done over the past three years (rashes consume 90% of my body, my skin falls off, went blind in one eye, once collapsed and broke one leg, had bouts of paralysis in my legs). I had been off work for about 9 months two years ago, and recently I've had to take so many days off sick that I wonder if I'll lose my job. I easily walked to the lift and back which was part of the assessment. If I needed a stick or frame to get about, then that would have helped my claim. I said I can only manage a fraction of what I could do before. I've had to shorten my hours and am too tired to go out after work. Now I only do what I really have to.....go to work to pay the bills, go shopping for food. I'm often in pain when I do these things despite the depomedrol, but these are things I have to do. But all of this wasn't enough to qualify. Being dogged, keeping calm and carrying on, putting up with the pain didn't help with my claim.

But this was just my experience. Definitely give it a go, and good luck.

[MandaM in reply to Diagnosed2012]

Crikey you have been dealt with an awful lot, and you were turned down. What planet were they on! So sorry you obviously had to deal with someone very clueless. Hope at the moment things arent too bad for you. X

[Kate-L]

Hi MandaM, well I have a Blue Badge and I don't get any benefits and have been working full time and now part time. I suffer from Lupus and have been through renal failure, dialysis and transplant. I don't think you should take any notice of your doctor and apply regardless. Apart from filling in the form you have to write a short piece as to why you need the badge - I would recommend you tell it like it is, do not leave anything out and remember renal transplant is NOT a cure for renal failure, its just a treatment and the authorities need to be reminded of this. You will need to go for assessment, but this is nothing to worry about. The doctor will just need to go through your form and your medical history - I found the Dr, very good indeed, she listened to everything I said and was very kind indeed. I would go ahead and don't worry about what anyone else says - good luck and I hope you are successful.

[MandaM in reply to Kate-L]

Thank you. Hope your transplant is doing a fantastic job for you. I had a live, unrelated back in March 2006. Createnines at about 80 now, not quite as good as it was doing way back but still within normal persons range! Isn't it amazing that you got the badge etc but poor diagnosed2012 was turned down. So unfair. Obviously not the same criteria being practised in different counties. Appalling.