1 in 20 people have a blue badge?

People with mental health and mild autism etc claim it’s as they panic to find a parking space and would have a panic attack over finding one. But surely, you’d have more severe anxiety over risking someone challenging your blue badge because you look ‘normal’ (not saying it’s right at all, but it happens).

I know a woman who claims her anxiety is so severe that she cannot leave her home - so she gets top pip, and a blue badge as a result. She goes to raves all weekend, every weekend. She works in a pub talking to customers day and night. Shes on the con yet she happily parks in a disabled parking space. I’m physically disabled and if I can’t get a close space, I physically cannot go so people with mental health problems who don’t need a close space annoys me

In most supermarkets you could use their wheelchair/seats/mobility scooter, see the elderly person into them and park. If you are shopping with someone who can't be reliably left while you park, or might need to be got to the car quickly if they have been triggered by shopping, you don't have the same level of choices.

We have an aging population, an increase in MH conditions, including dementia and research/treatment options means that more people are living with disabilities after partial recovery. Which is always going to mean the amount of people entitled to BB is going to increase.

My dad had motor neurone disease. He couldnt bear any weight on his legs and needed a wheelchair even for the shortest distance. He was initially given a blue badge no problem. Parents then moved house to a different local authority to be in an accessible property. The new council refused to give him a badge and said he wasn’t eligible! He eventually got one but my mum had to get his consultant and the MND association involved before the council would back down.

What are the changes?

I am also in SE and over the moon to have just been awarded a blue badge for my frail 87 year old mum with minimal mobility and dementia.
It was a right battle trying to provide the 'proof' that her local council required which stipulated letters from Consultants confirming her afflictions (we have none) and states we absolutely must not approach a GP for this evidence.
Taking her to appointments has been a nightmare prior to this as an ordinary parking space does not allow for the car doors to open wide enough to get her and the wheelchair out.
She gashed her leg in a fall recently requiring frequent dressings and the District Nurses would not come out to her 'as she can get in a car she is not housebound' and the rage at this gave me the final push in my battle.
This week we went off happily to the appointment armed with the blue badge only to find all disabled spaces full!

It's already a fight for disabled spaces so with the recent changes it's gonna be harder.

It could get them into a lot of trouble. When I pointed out the possible consequences of using FIL's blue badge to MIL when he wasn't with her she soon stopped using it, at least when I was with her and offering to pay for the parking (this was back when blue badge parking was automatically free in a lot of places).

Totally agree. But she is no longer respectful of family time and commitments. So her independence is only currently being achieved at cost to others. Unpaid.

She's probably trying to hang onto her independence and normal way of life.x

Could have a bowel issue that means they urgently need to get to a toilet

That's not exploitation, that's you making the judgement that they should not have a BB when you know absolutely nothing about them.

I'm sure many exploit the system. I have often watched people pull up outside a shop, put a sticker on the dashboard, and then hop out the car and walk into the shop quicker than me.

I’ve had a Blue Badge for around 25yrs, I qualify automatically under the rules of PIP, DLA before that.

I had to apply under the other rules recently, though, because my PIP was due to run out in December, at the same time as my badge, and they’d not looked at the renewal. It went through straight away, within a couple of days, on the medical evidence I provided. They didn’t even write to my GP.

Both PILs have one each. The GP supported FIL’s application, we had hospital letters to use in support of MIL’s

Yes that's probably why the amount isn't higher.

If you are severely sight impaired you are automatically eligible for one.

Plenty of disabled people won't need a Blue badge though, I'm registered as partially sighted but I have no need for a blue badge even though I'm technically disabled.

@NippyNinjaCrab

That's awful and I'm so sorry how can that be right!? I'm ignorant to the points requirements, I assumed higher rate was automatically awarded a BB in my area and they didn't look at where the points were allocated x

No it's not.

The vast majority of BB holders actually qualify with standard rate as you only need 8 points on the 'moving around' descriptor.

That's awful and I'm so sorry how can that be right!? I'm ignorant to the points requirements, I assumed higher rate was automatically awarded a BB in my area and they didn't look at where the points were allocated x

BB holder who can only drive a few miles to one supermarket car park. After circling round the car park I often end up returning home as I can't get a disabled space and I can't get my leg and crutches out of the car without the extra room - I end up ordering an online shop.

Makes sense now I know the statistics on BB holders from the OP !

They may both be screwed without one though. It’s not a competition. Anyone with genuine need should get one.

I am in this position and it pisses me off daily that I have a motability car but can't get a BB.

The rules are so batshit that if I lived in England I would have an automatic entitlement but Scotland's points requirements differ so I don't.

Yes, like my 89 year old mum just today. Wouldn't agree to me setting up online prescription delivery for all of her medications. Because she much prefers to go to the surgery to collect. However, please note she is no longer driving and refuses to take taxis. So, the collection is only possible if a family member takes her. The stubbornness at the cost to family is just extraordinary.

Edited because I misread

I'm in Scotland, I was eligible for a BB with the higher rate of mobility, I had applied for one before my award and i was given an appointment to be assessed mobility wise. My neighbour doesn't have disability benefits and got her BB by hahing a motability assessment. Disabled parking spaces in a residential area are available for anyone to use that has a BB in our council area.

It is not the badges that are scarce, in my experience it is the amount of BB spaces that is the problem. There are not enough where I live.

Both DD and I work full time, but if DM has any appointments eg recent trip to optician we both have to take 1/2 a day off work to go and collect DM then one of us drops off DM with one person whilst other parks up
Even using Specsavers inside a local supermarket is like arranging a military operation