Independent mobility assessment for blue badge. Anyone had one?

[eescvc]

I've just received a letter from my local council for a IMA with a physiotherapist for this Thursday to assess my eligibility for a blue badge.

I'm really worried about it. We all know how notoriously bad assessors are at understanding good and bad days. Has anyone got experienced experience or any advice?

I'm so isolated at the moment and having a blue badge will literally be life changing so I'm really nervous.

[Caramia64]

Hi , I had one a couple of months ago. It was done by a an occupational therapist who was actually really pleasant. However I was turned down as was able to walk to my car outside , albeit slower than 'normal' and my gait wasn't normal. Not enough though to pass . She had me walk across the room a few times first and asked me lots of questions , though can't really remember what now , but I remember crying at one point. It wasn't because she was nasty or anything , just the way I was feeling. I explained that I suffer from vertigo and that sometimes I am more unsteady than others. I also said at times I am in so much pain that I find it hard walking any distance. I was really disappointed as I had a blue badge after my brain tumour op and it was invaluable! My lupus doesn't appear to make any difference ! Good luck with your assessment x

[cathie]

Yes. I’m in edinburgh. You pay £20 which is refunded if it’s refused. I saw an occupational therapist who asked me lots of questions about breathlessness and how far I could walk. And we did a test walk. She said I should’ve applied for one earlier before knee replacements and that I was marginal. However the thing that swung the decision to Yes was that I was on biologics. She knows my consultant and the decision making behind that. So I got it and used it for the first time yesterday to go somewhere I wouldn’t have been able. If I had to do it again I’d have kept a copy of what I put on the original form. Good luck

[cathie in reply to cathie]

I should say I’ve got RA.

[MEW53]

I got turned down when I applied for my blue badge when I became very ill in 2014. I appealed and a physiotherapist came out to assess me, he saw how my mobility was affected and said he was shocked that I had been rejected.

He was really helpful and I was then approved for a blue badge.

I think that 20 metres maximum for walking is part of their criteria, even if you have to keep stopping.

I think it depends who you get and how sympathetic they are. I have a friend who applied for one and she got turned down, she has COPD and gets out of breath. I told her to appeal and an assessor came out to see her, she left some paperwork upstairs and when she eventually got down the stairs he commented on her breathing. She then got a letter to say the badge had been approved.

Good luck