I got my Blue Badge on Thursday. After six months, one appeal, a telephone call and a couple of emails my application was miraculously granted after I submitted a formal complaint and copied in my local MP. Here's the exchange verbatim:-
EMAIL SENT 14 JANUARY 2011
"I submitted an appeal against a Blue Badge decision on 22 November and have
heard nothing since. I telephoned your office at the beginning of the week
for an update and was promised a call back that day. I have heard nothing
since.
Please find attached the original appeal. I would be grateful if you could
advise whether this is indeed progressing. Please note since the appeal
was submitted I have received an appointment to see a Podiatric Consultant.
Kind regards"
EMAIL SENT 9 FEBRUARY
"Further to my email (copy attached) of 14 January I have still received
neither an email response nor telephone call to advise me of the progress
of my appeal against your decision to refuse a Blue Badge.
In or about July 2010 I applied for a Blue Badge due to being disabled with
two chronic, lifelong disabling conditions (Meniere's Disease and
Rheumatoid Arthritis). I was refused on the grounds that walking did not
pose a serious threat to my health or life. I received that decision over
three months from submission despite your Service Standards clearly stating
a response will be issued within four weeks.
On 22 November I submitted an appeal (attached again) against the decision,
clearly stating the reasons why I believe I meet the required criteria. By
10 January 2011 I had received no indication as to its progress and I
called your office for an update. I was advised the caseload officer was
"indisposed" and I would receive a call later that afternoon. I received
no call on that day or any other day since.
On 14 January I emailed a copy of my appeal which had been updated to state
that my condition had deteriorated since the original submission and I was
to be referred to a Podiatric Consultant due to the severe pain in both my
feet and toe joints. This is due to a combination of plantar fasciitis
brought on by the Rheumatoid Arthritis and swelling and pain in both large
toes and ball joints. I have since been seen by the Appliances Department
at Selly Oak Hospital and have an appointment to see a Podiatric Consultant
for a full podiatric assessment next week. Despite a request in that email
for an update on the status of my appeal I have received no response to
date.
Since my email of 14 January the Rheumatoid Arthritis has now started
attacking my sacroiliac joint, confirmed by my GP on Tuesday 1 February. I
am now unable to walk more than a few feet without suffering severe pain
from my hip to my knee due to the nerves being trapped by inflamed tendons,
ligaments and surrounding tissue. I am unable to walk, bend, crouch without
severe pain and am having difficulties driving and getting in and out of
vehicles. This situation is irreversable and will only deteriorate. A
telephone conversation with my Rheumatology Team has confirmed this and we
are discussing treatment options currently.
As a quality and performance monitoring officer at a large charity I am
very disappointed in your standards of customer care and failure to adhere
to service standards. I, along with many other citizens of this city
living with long term illnesses and disabilities, deserve better treatment
from a service which is supposed to help us cope with sickness, disability
and chronic pain in an already difficult world. I am in chronic pain every
day and that pain is getting worse, and affecting my ability to work and
undertake normal activities, by the day. The sacroiliac dysfunction,
together with the aforementioned foot pain, is making walking extremely
painful and extremly difficult and I would therefore appreciate a prompt
response. Six months is a grossly unreasonable amount of time to go
through this very frustrating process.
I look forward to hearing from you."
RESPONSE FROM BLUE BADGE TEAM 20 MINUTES LATER
"Dear xxxxxx,
Apologies for the time it has taken to deal with your appeal. I am pleased
to inform you that your application has now been approved, and an approval
letter will be sent out in tonight's post.
Regards
xxxxxxxxx
Blue Badge Manager
Older Persons Access Service"
Result.
And the moral of this story is: persevere, keep your temper and bring in your MP or councillors if you have to. I used to work for the City council and if there's anything they're terrified of it's an inquisitive MP.
Any idea how long a PIP application is currently taking?
Good News!!!!!
Blue Badge renewal
DLA
Some Good News
