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Original poster

GP charging for blue badge letter - disabled child

214 replies

GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 10:58

Just checking if this is usual practice to be charged for a GP to write a supporting letter for a blue badge application for a disabled child?

My child is 5, has profound learning difficulties and ASD. Is non verbal and attends specialist school. Displays many challenging behaviours and has no sense of danger. Regularly refuses to walk and can also try to run into the road etc.

Our local authority are notoriously difficult in giving out blue badges and I was advised by his specialist school to get a supporting letter from the GP to apply for a blue badge as they’ve seen first hand how dangerous he is in a car park.

Our GP had an appt with him and has agreed to write the letter. However they have charged £40 for this.

Is this standard? It seems excessive, it’s not as though we’ve asked for a letter to support us going on holiday or something. This is for a disabled child!

I suppose I will pay it if necessary but wanted to check if this was the norm.

Thanks

OP posts:
whippy1981 · 12/05/2025 11:47

CautiousLurker01 · 12/05/2025 11:43

They can charge but I am surprised they have. My GP regularly provides letters and sickness notes to my 20yo for college and DSA related stuff and states that as it is for school and they are not earning that they will not charge. Am increasingly aware that my practice may be one of the good ones, though.

A Dr isn't judged as being good based on how much unpaid labour they do.

Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:47

perpetualplatespinning · 12/05/2025 11:42

It is normal to charge for letters like that. Although some people have sufficient evidence without such a letter.

Have you considered doing a COC for DLA to pursue HRM? It wouldn’t be quick but HRM DLA means someone is automatically entitled to blue badge.

If DS reasonably requires SALT and OT, they should be in the EHCP. Provision in EHCPs isn’t limited to what the NHS typically provides. You could request an early review of the EHCP to pursue this. Although you might have to appeal.

Yes we have challenged this at his annual review and they refused to include speech therapy or OT.

We are currently appealing it and expect for it to end up at tribunal. I expect we will win but that means another whole year of him being without the therapy so we are of course paying for it in the meantime.

Its all very stressful and upsetting that the local authority are trying to deny him what he desperately needs.

We couldn’t challenge it when it was originally issued as we needed the finalised EHCP to be issued with the specialist school named and if we had appealed he would’ve missed a place which are extremely limited.

OP posts:
CautiousLurker01 · 12/05/2025 11:43

They can charge but I am surprised they have. My GP regularly provides letters and sickness notes to my 20yo for college and DSA related stuff and states that as it is for school and they are not earning that they will not charge. Am increasingly aware that my practice may be one of the good ones, though.

PeachPumpkin · 12/05/2025 11:43

Feel free to pm me if you want, OP. I also have a child the same age who is severely affected by ASD.

whippy1981 · 12/05/2025 11:43

TheHerboriste · 12/05/2025 11:26

This. I’m surprised it’s even a question.

Show quote history

Completely! The fact that it is the 'we're being penalised' for asking someone to do a job and pay them for it is even more surprising!

perpetualplatespinning · 12/05/2025 11:42

It is normal to charge for letters like that. Although some people have sufficient evidence without such a letter.

Have you considered doing a COC for DLA to pursue HRM? It wouldn’t be quick but HRM DLA means someone is automatically entitled to blue badge.

If DS reasonably requires SALT and OT, they should be in the EHCP. Provision in EHCPs isn’t limited to what the NHS typically provides. You could request an early review of the EHCP to pursue this. Although you might have to appeal.

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 11:41

GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:21

I completely get that it’s normal for them to charge for letters and I would have no issues paying if it was for a frivolous reason eg a holiday.

This is not frivolous though - this is his life. We actively have to opt out of going places and doing things if there’s any risks with parking.

It’s just yet another thing we’re penalised for.

Don't you get DLA/PIP for him which is meant to go towards extra costs of disability if which this is definitely one

Greybeardy · 12/05/2025 11:39

Has the LA actually requested the letter or just the school suggested/asked for it (in which case the school could pay for it). If the LA could issue a blue badge based on freebee printouts of records but chose not to then they are the problem not the GP. Letter writing isn't commissioned and is essentially private practice because they don't do it at the expense of commissioned 'NHS' work, it's done on top of. Either way, £40 is cheap if you compare it to what a solicitor/other professional would charge for an equivalent amount of work (and I get that it's probably not cheap if you're shelling out for all sorts to support a disabled child, but it's really not a bad service from the GP).

TipsyGreenSeal · 12/05/2025 11:39

As PP have said, it's standard. It's additional work.

I'm NHS and used to work in an area where we filled in a fair few DVLA forms, so long as we did it outside of clinical time so weren't using NHS time, we individually got to keep the fee paid for by the DVLA. I don't think anyone individually did that many though, probably 5 or so a year.

It was free for the service user though, the DVLA paid the fee.

OneForTheRoadThen · 12/05/2025 11:38

I’m sorry you have such a fight to get support for your son. Some posters enjoy sticking the boot in, it’s really unpleasant.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 12/05/2025 11:38

GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:31

The entirety of his DLA payments and much more money ALREADY pay for all the treatments he doesn’t get on the NHS eg speech therapy.

He’s non verbal but apparently the NHS deem that he should be signed off from the service. Same with OT. Weekly sessions of this are £90 and £55 per time. Do you think DLA covers this?

Show quote history

I wouldn’t know as I am not privy to his information, you asked a question and we answered it!

Continue your drip feeding tho, we asked questions based on your OP and you answered!

Stop getting pissy because you don’t like the replies!

PeachPumpkin · 12/05/2025 11:38

OP, I do wonder if you might be eligible for the high rate of mobility. You might want to take advice on this. I’m presuming your child doesn’t currently get high rate because otherwise the blue badge would be automatic.

Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:32

Mareleine · 12/05/2025 11:30

Well you're not supposed to be in profit at the end of the payments so no need to make shitty comments to posters pointing out the obvious, the payments are there to help towards these sort of expenses. TBH you are coming across badly in this thread.

Show quote history

TOWARDS?

They don’t even touch the sides of everything he needs.

OP posts:
Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:31

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 12/05/2025 11:29

It’s exactly what he gets the money for, the payments are to be allocated to the child and what ever he needs!

He needs the blue badge so use the money to pay for it!

Show quote history

The entirety of his DLA payments and much more money ALREADY pay for all the treatments he doesn’t get on the NHS eg speech therapy.

He’s non verbal but apparently the NHS deem that he should be signed off from the service. Same with OT. Weekly sessions of this are £90 and £55 per time. Do you think DLA covers this?

OP posts:
Mareleine · 12/05/2025 11:30

GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:26

Yes we do.

Ah yes good job that has us rolling in it eh!

Show quote history

Well you're not supposed to be in profit at the end of the payments so no need to make shitty comments to posters pointing out the obvious, the payments are there to help towards these sort of expenses. TBH you are coming across badly in this thread.

Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:29

namechange0998776554799000 · 12/05/2025 11:26

It's a different department for EHCPs and blue badges so you never know. I had the same experience as you with EHCP (different county) but blue badge was surprisingly straightforward. Since there's no cost to doing the blue badge application and it's quite an easy form, I would submit it without the doctors letter (include EHCP and diagnosis letters etc). If it's rejected, try again with a GP letter. It is worth fighting for, I've bern surprised by what a big difference it's made to us being able to park in disabled spaces - has made it possible to do things we just wouldn't have been able to otherwise

Thank you.

It’s just the constant fight isn’t it. All the time. I’m so tired and frankly sick of how hard everything is.

OP posts:
HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 12/05/2025 11:29

GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:26

Yes we do.

Ah yes good job that has us rolling in it eh!

Show quote history

It’s exactly what he gets the money for, the payments are to be allocated to the child and what ever he needs!

He needs the blue badge so use the money to pay for it!

Thegodfatherreturns · 12/05/2025 11:28

I don't think you need a specific supporting letter. I just scan or print out a letter that the hospital has sent to my GP regarding my disabilities and that does the trick.

Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:27

TheHerboriste · 12/05/2025 11:26

This. I’m surprised it’s even a question.

Show quote history

Do you really need to add this? The question has been answered numerous times and I’ve said I understand and will pay!

FFS

OP posts:
Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:26

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 12/05/2025 11:25

Do you not get DLA or the equivalent for him? If so that’s what the payment is for.

Show quote history

Yes we do.

Ah yes good job that has us rolling in it eh!

OP posts:
namechange0998776554799000 · 12/05/2025 11:26

It's a different department for EHCPs and blue badges so you never know. I had the same experience as you with EHCP (different county) but blue badge was surprisingly straightforward. Since there's no cost to doing the blue badge application and it's quite an easy form, I would submit it without the doctors letter (include EHCP and diagnosis letters etc). If it's rejected, try again with a GP letter. It is worth fighting for, I've bern surprised by what a big difference it's made to us being able to park in disabled spaces - has made it possible to do things we just wouldn't have been able to otherwise

TheHerboriste · 12/05/2025 11:26

whippy1981 · 12/05/2025 11:09

You are paying them to do work for you. Unfair to ask them to work for free.

This. I’m surprised it’s even a question.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 12/05/2025 11:25

GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 10:58

Just checking if this is usual practice to be charged for a GP to write a supporting letter for a blue badge application for a disabled child?

My child is 5, has profound learning difficulties and ASD. Is non verbal and attends specialist school. Displays many challenging behaviours and has no sense of danger. Regularly refuses to walk and can also try to run into the road etc.

Our local authority are notoriously difficult in giving out blue badges and I was advised by his specialist school to get a supporting letter from the GP to apply for a blue badge as they’ve seen first hand how dangerous he is in a car park.

Our GP had an appt with him and has agreed to write the letter. However they have charged £40 for this.

Is this standard? It seems excessive, it’s not as though we’ve asked for a letter to support us going on holiday or something. This is for a disabled child!

I suppose I will pay it if necessary but wanted to check if this was the norm.

Thanks

Do you not get DLA or the equivalent for him? If so that’s what the payment is for.

Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:21

I completely get that it’s normal for them to charge for letters and I would have no issues paying if it was for a frivolous reason eg a holiday.

This is not frivolous though - this is his life. We actively have to opt out of going places and doing things if there’s any risks with parking.

It’s just yet another thing we’re penalised for.

OP posts:
Original poster
GPlettercharge · 12/05/2025 11:19

BlueandWhitePorcelain · 12/05/2025 11:15

In my LA, highest rate mobility of DLA/PIP is enough; or medical evidence.

I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me, your LA is treating disabled people unfavourably compared to other LAs. Could it be disability discrimination?

Yes it’s Kent and they’re known for it.

They lose 99% of appeals and tribunals and they don’t care.

My son’s EHCP was hugely delayed and missed numerous statutory deadlines and they still don’t care. They don’t answer emails or the phone and there’s simply no consequences.

Reform have just been voted in so it’s about to get a million times worse

OP posts: