1 in 20 people have a blue badge?

I'm not against people with mental health difficulties getting blue badges, at all, but if they are scarce, I wouldn't like to see one go to a person with mental health difficulties over a very elderly person with very limited mobility. That would seem perverse to me.

I know of a couple of people who run their mum around so hang onto the BB. They both use it themselves which is annoying when mum isn't even present.

I applied for one recently on behalf of a very elderly person (mid 90s). I was told it was in no way automatic and that if they could walk 100yss with an aid
(eg a stick or a frame), . they would not be eligible. BBs are definitely difficult to get, with a physical disability, and also require a good amount of supporting medical evidence.

No

Posters have explained on this thread about the descriptors needed to have an automatic entitlement for a BB. It is nothing to do with being too disabled. People who do not receive any disability benefits could just apply directly to their LA.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-badge-can-i-get-one/can-i-get-a-blue-badge

PIP does not give automatic entitlement, neither does DLA

If the enhanced mobility is for mental health you do not automatically qualify for a blue badge. You can be entitled to a motability car but not the BB. Those who have standard mobility may get a BB if they have a certain number of physical points, but not the motability scheme. It may seem like an anomaly but it's a fact.

@Oodlesofnoodlez was it mental health not physical that the highest rate was awarded?

We were turned down with high level PiP mobility. Apparently too disabled!

No. They are also for people who are at significant risk near vehicles. This includes people who have no sense of awareness or danger due to mental disability or illness.

Isn’t the whole point of them that they’re for people who have difficulty physically getting from A to B?

No, I don't think I've taken it out of context, I'm just noting how it seems almost an arbitrary decision from council to council, despite what it says about eligibility on the government website. Some people - very deserving - get their badge at the first time of asking, while others, equally deserving, have to battle layers of bureaucracy. A near neighbour who's a wheelchair user, lost both legs to diabetes, was refused having a disabled bay painted outside their house. Reason? Too many dropped kerbs on her road. She's currently appealing with help from her MP.

Comments on your thread, OP, show just what a lottery it is. And it shouldn't be.

Husband got one straight away with letter from doctor confirming he had cancer. He was mobile then, less so now, I'm the driver. But to be absolutely honest, it was to help with having free parking at the many many hospital appointments. Would have been hundreds of pounds otherwise. Different areas vary of course.

She could be fined. She needs a bb to park legally in bb spaces. I say that as a dil to a mil without a BB who drives the family mad as she needs one (walks with two sticks and cNt walk very far due to a deformed back and other issues) but refuses as it might put be her insurance up (incorrect but she refuses to listen to us). We have to get the trolley so she lean on it to get to the shop....

You cannot park in loading bays with a blue badge

Government figures say 24% of the population has a disability so 1 in 20 is low in comparison.

@LadyKenya I'm going to get DH to tell her this, thanks.

That is a shame, because from what you have described, she could very well be able to get one from her Local Authority. She also runs the risk of being fined if she were to park in a BB space, on a public road, and a traffic warden was checking.

@LadyKenya Sorry I can't do quotes on the app. DH and his DSis and DB have all offered but she is adamant she doesn't need one and is within her rights to park there.

They could be the person who is sitting down by the till, trying to catch their breath before they even begin shopping, or the person leaning heavily on their shopping trolley looking at an item on the shelf. It is not necessarily obvious is what I am saying. Either way it makes no difference, if the BB spaces are full, they are full!

I’m surprised you had issues and had to fight to get one, I have only my experience to go by which was very straightforward, just completed the online form and got an email to say it was accepted, I didn’t have to provide anything else despite my illness being one with degrees of disability.
I don’t usually have an issue to find a space, just occasionally when it’s a busy time at the supermarket might need to circle a bit until someone moves. Most places we’ve visited have plenty of spaces.
just to add it’s not obvious I have any mobility issues, I just get out of breath quickly due to medications and so can’t walk far without dizziness and have to have a rest, but I’ll usually just stand still for a bit until I feel ok again.

There's 69 million people in the UK, and 2 million have a blue badge.. that doesn't seem particularly high tbh.

We've never had a problem with finding a disabled spot.

Double quoting but as a BB holder with physical disability I wonder this too. If I can't get a BB space with its extra width then I can't get out of the car. Often when I'm in a shop with its own car park, and all the BB spaces are full, I never see anyone in the shop who seems to have mobility issues. I know it's not that straightforward but yes makes me wonder.

I’m currently waiting for a BB for my mum who’s 89 and housebound with mobility issues . It’s still under assessment as I can track it on the councils website. A lovely lady from AgeUK came to my mums flat and helped us apply for the BB and attendance allowance, which we’ve got .

Yes, that is true some people are ambulatory wheelchair users.

I think that sounds about right, especially when you factor in elderly people who have age related mobility issues who also qualify.

I've applied for blue badges for 3 family members without any issues. 2 of them were before any PIP or anything like that was applied for. I later applied for PIP / Attendance Allowance for them both, again without any issues.