I,ve been diagnosed with RA,can I get a disabled sticker for my car ?

[johng]

[Hidden]

your dr can help advise.. I Think It now involves a medical assessment with an independent medical person.

[helixhelix]

RA is considered to be a disability, but whether or not you can get things that help support people with disabilities depends on how it affects you. If you've only just been diagnosed you may well find that you improve hugely after a few months of treatment and won't need to think about problems with driving and parking. Anyway, if you have permanent problems then you could apply for a Blue Badge. Each local authority has it's own arrangement for giving them out, but usually only for people who get higher rate DLA or really struggle to walk. If you go to gov.uk and search for Blue Badge you'll get the link to your own local authority application, and as Alison says you might also need an assessment from your doctor. hope that helps.

[earthwitch]

As helix says, contact your local council to find out how to apply. It used to be that you could get one just with a simple certificate from your doctor, but most councils now are moving towards making it a lot more difficult and making you meet the same criteria you would if you got the high level mobility component of DLA. (high level mobility DLA will get you a blue badge straight off). I recently helped a friend fill out one of these new style forms and it was a 23 page thing, and exactly the same as one from another council in Scotland.

If your council does make you fill in one of these long forms, then don't do it yourself - take it along to your local CAB and get the disability welfare officer to help you fill it out. They know exactly what words to use and it will be far more likely you will get it straight off.

[Shell1967]

I have a blue badge but do not get dla.i applied online.i didn't need a medical ,they just wrote to my gp,it took 6 weeks but is so worth it.hope this helps michelle. X

[k3let]

I applied after being diagnosed for 14 yrs!!! Doc filled in form , got called for medical met with two occ therapists. Awarded badge and got some gadgets to help me and a hand rail at home. Best thing I have ever done. Feel in some way I have got a wee bit of my independence back and can shop without worries now. Good luck applying x

[SarahKate-NRAS]

Hi JohnG

I hope my answer to your previous question will also help to answer this query! nras.healthunlocked.com/que...

And it looks as if you've had some good info from the others on here too.

Kind regards

Sarah Kate

NRAS

[Smartygirl]

It's not as easy as some may think,... I have suffered wth RA for 16 years,.... and have difficulty walking, i have pain just standing on my feet,..... when filling in the Disability Forms and my goodness ( they are like a book) this is what they want to know & other things ofcaurse ..... Now i have just sent to renew my new Badge, after 3 years I have to do this & you would not beleive the problems i have,..... after 16 years you would think there would'nt be a PROBLEM but Oh nooooooooo, Regards to all RA sufferers, x