Just a bit of information for anyone who followed my blue badge questions some months ago. I’ve just got approval after about 3 months - which is very useful as I’m in the middle of a flare with extremely limited mobility! The new ‘hidden disability’ aspect of the badge seems to be working! So I’m off to pay my tenner and hope to be able to do a very little shopping on my own!
My very best wishes to you all, young and old, fat and thin, for as pain free a New Year as possible! May your elastic be springy and flexible!!
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Whatgrange
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First question if you try online is what benefits are you on. Answer 'none', I don't want any money, I just don't want to walk so far when I'm struggling, when I visit my hospital for my appointments I have to sit down and rest when walking from the car park to the clinic. They come back - you're not eligible. To be honest, I would gladly pay to be able to park in the blue badge area to save myself falling down.
I just want to be able to open my door wide enough to get out & know l won’t be blocked in when l get back. Not that l can walk very far at the moment anyway......
That’s what I thought initially and was very keen to put it into my GP assessment. This is not carried out by YOUR GP but a totally independent one. He was very understanding , and agreed about the problem, but said it was not one he was able to fill in on his questionnaire. There is not a space for it and I got the impression it is more of a tick box exercise. I think the time to mention it has to be on your initial application to the local authority, which I forgot to do and thought I could rectify at the assessment. The independent GP has no access to your medical records, so you’re starting from scratch. I suppose that the two sources are then compared to try to avoid any fraudulent applications.
My friend had this problem after a hip replacement, had to ask a guy passing by if he could reverse her automatic car our for her. Her GP was very helpful and she now has a blue badge.
I parked my car at the bottom of a ski slope and came back to find some idiot had parked their car 10cm from my driver's door!!! Luckily even with PMR I can still manage to get in the other side and slide across - I ALWAYS slide the driver's seat as far back as possible before getting out. Now I will admit I'm on the wrong side (driving a UK car in Italy) but don't people look????
I’ve just gone in again and tried as if a new application. I think that after the first few questions, you’re filling in that you have none of the above conditions, when you should be ticking ‘ I cannot walk or have difficulty in walking’ which, from what you have said, I presume you have. Let me know!
WOW I just tried again and it's a different set of screens to what I saw before. I t now says I may be eligible. I'll get my documents together and give it a go. Thanks.
That makes no sense at all. Anyone, no matter their income, might need disabled parking. Can you get past the online sentinel and talk to a real live human being?
The questions are ‘are you on any of these benefits’ or ‘none of these benefits’. They are disability benefits and will help the decision makers to know to some degree the extent of any disability. I have none of the benefits and filled in that appropriate box. You then go on to the next questions about why you need the badge and how your condition affects you etc. When the form is completed it is sent to your local authority who are responsible for the scheme. There are questions there that apply to us with ‘hidden disabilities’. If I can help I would be happy to. Sorry this is a bit long winded but just wanted to explain the system in the UK.
It does depend on some benefits in the UK - if you’re getting high rate disability benefits you qualify. The other way is to get your physio/occupational therapist to complete the form at assessment stage - that way it gets through the first hurdle. You have to state your worst days being every day.
A GP used to have clout years ago but think they rely on your therapist doing it now.
I was just given an assessment appointment, but there was no choice as to who did it. It just turned out to be a GP at another practice. Maybe they have a contract to do it. Or maybe it depends on the local authority - mine is Bradford.
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