Is applying for a blue badge really that difficult??

Shame they won’t do AA application. That can passport to other discounts and services

I just filled my mum's in for her and it took me 2 hours to add all her medications and conditions, answer the questions about mobility, give details of her medical professionals etc. I was losing the will to live by the end. They've now replied asking for evidence from medical professionals and receipts for her mobility aids so we'll need to chase all that up as we only have appointment letters. I'd already sent a photo of her prescriptions. I'm finding it a flipping nightmare -can't believe everyone saying it's straightforward! Maybe it depends on your local authority. She'd already applied once through a council one stop shop but then they emailed asking for more evidence which she didn't return within the timeframe (as she found it too over-whelming) so they cancelled the application.

I helped my mum renew hers recently, which i am sure is easier than a first time application, but it was all of about 10 minutes in total. No need for passport photos as a digital photo could be uploaded. I would take a look at their local council rules and see what they need.

However, this does sound more as if it is about accepting their disability rather than the process. My mum was the same about AA, so I filled in the forms for her, and her inability to complete the paperwork became part of the narrative. Now she is getting the extra money, she is annoyed with herself for not doing it years ago!

MIL (in England) gave the same excuses for years- too tricky to fill out, Barbara who is blind with no legs was refused one etc etc. Turned out she was worried that
-She'd need to do a driving test in front of someone
-They wouldn't think she was disabled enough
-Take her licence regardless!

Her GP surgery had a specific person to help fill it out. I don't think it was the practice nurse or Dr, but more admin support/HCA possibly, but someone that specifically helped fill in the form. That might be another option for them to try.

I did it for my mother:
It is quite a complex form
You have to attach a passport sized photo,
Proof of address
Possibly passport, can't remember
You have to detail their limitations exactly
I attached medical repprts/letters
Mother gets attendance allowance so included that

She wasn't in one of the automatic categories and looks OK for a 90 year old. For the assessed category her county was quoting 16 weeks. It came through in 8.

They will need help.

In England it's free to apply, if successful you have to pay c. £10 for the badge.

My parents were ok about badges, although one got approved and one rejected initially - typically, the less mobile one was rejected. They eventually (years) agreed to Attendance Allowance, which isn't means-tested, and as they only get small state pensions (not the full), it made a huge difference to their income level. Both now have blue badges, we were able to supply lots of consultant letters as supporting info.

In our neighbouring county almost all applicants have to attend an in person assessment in a building without parking so if you walk there rather than are dropped at the door it tells them you can walk further than claimed.

This.

You could just fill it in for them, but if they have diagnosed conditions and you can attach evidence for them (a letter from the hospital, or even a screenshot of their NHS app with their medications etc), it is actually very straight forward. Perhaps mention that it means parking is generally free with a blue badge? Saving money is often a bit of a sweetener…

Meant to add Scotland here

It is a bit of a faff, yes.. From memory I think you need to declare that mobility is a major issue and then you give details of all relevant medical notes. Think you give the name of GP surgery..Council can take up to about 8 to 10 weeks to approve ( at least it was that here in Hampshire) and sure enough it took them almost that long. Goodness knows why. Can't remember anything at all about finances, it's all about how well they can cope with crossing distances on foot.

Edited - as others are saying, yes you need to get a serious ( passport stylie) photo of the person in whose case you are applying. So you do need their co-operation.

We're in Scotland and OH applied 3 months ago. Seemingly it's currently "with the assessor"

So simple and you can do it for them. Ive never heared of them contacting the doctors. It's helped my husband so much I don't know what we did without it.

No it’s v straightforward. I did it for my parents after it was refused, my dad had way overestimated how far mum could walk. Detail each of their medical conditions and any supporting docs u have, prescriptions, hospital letters, appointments, any evidence to back up their case. It was successful and it makes a massive difference to their every day lives.

No the fee is refunded if they charge upfront and it is unsuccessful. Sell it on the basis of it making their lives easier. AA is also straightforward and SVI is a shortcut to getting it.

Same getting my dad one was bloody brilliant. Meant we got free parking at the hospital which saved a fortune.

I found it very easy. Took about 15 min to get my dad's.

They will have to know as you need a decent picture of them for the blue badge.

I got one about a year ago. I filled out a form
on the gov.uk website and tben I had to provide evidence to my local council. I get PIP (disability benefit) so I sent them my award notice. It was straightforward for me. I imagine though that if you have to rely on hospital letters as your evidence that you need the badge, the council will have to take time considering it, so that could be a lot slower.

No it’s easy. We filled one in recently. Copd. You need your national insurance number. You need to list ailments. Then I think there were questions about your mobility, how far you can walk etc. they ask about attendance allowance because if you have that it helps with the application. But not interested in your general finance. We sent in the prescription renewal form with all the meds listed as supporting evidence. You can start and save if you need to. It was actually very straightforward. And it arrived very quickly. You are allowed to do it for someone as long as you have the information.

It's very easy. Do they get attendance allowance? Do that first, then getting a badge should be very straightforward. I would just do it for them to be honest. Old people get bamboozled by the idea of applying for things.

Pretty easy you can do it online, need some medical forms as proof

I find it straightforward and quick, unlike applying for benefits - filling the forms in, can take two days.