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Original poster

Blue Badge Application Rejected

46 replies

MashedPotatoBrainz · 23/04/2020 13:19

I'm absolutely devastated and can't stop crying at what feels like the theft of my independence. I have hypermobility in my hips and fibromyalgia and have had a blue badge for 20 years. But they've just rejected my renewal because my medical report says I can walk more than 100 m.

It's true, I can go more than 100 m but not without pain, and the further I go the less I'll be able to go later. If I go shopping I have to use a rollator and can cope with going round 4-6 shops max. But if I do that I will pay later. The next day I won't be able to leave the house and will struggle to get to the bathroom without help.

On family days out I have to use a wheelchair or I can't go.

But the real kicker is they've made the decision based on a mediscal report which is pretty much word for word the same as the previous ones. So nothing has changed in my condition and nothing has changed in my doctor's report of my condition.

Everything feels just so hopeless now.

OP posts:
IcaMorgan · 23/04/2020 13:59

Do you get PIP?

The rules changed on how far you can walk on BBs and some councils now only give them to people on PIP

x2boys · 23/04/2020 14:05

Can you appeal.?My son has a blue badge as he gets high rate mobility DLA under SMI rules so it's automatic ,but there must be an appeal process ?

Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 23/04/2020 18:25

I'm going to appeal. Once I've got over the shock. I feel like they're following the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law this time. My support worker was around earlier and she's horrified because she understands how difficult it is for me to get already.

My health centre is at the end of my road. It takes my husband less than a minute to walk there. Takes me about 5 with a rollator on a good day. On a bad day I have to drive because I can't bear the pain. Now I won't have that option. So I'll have to cancel each time instead.

OP posts:
Tollergirl · 23/04/2020 23:19

Hi - please appeal. I went through this a year ago - had been on DLA for years with motability car which I lost following transfer to PIP. I was going to appeal the PIP decision but was waiting 11 months for tribunal and it was making me so anxious that I decided to withdraw. I then had to go for an assessment to renew my blue badge for which I had to walk round a car park. I did this with my stick, in considerable pain and took much longer than the man asessing me - who had a stopwatch When I got the letter telling me that it had been refused I was devastated as it was my lifeline (I have had severe arthritis since teenage years). After my initial despair I started getting very angry! I then researched the criteria for the council giving blue badges and went through point by point. I wrote a long letter stating all my evidence. The reply I got was hysterical- told me that the assessor had not been aware of the pain I was in because I wasn't displaying outward signs of pain like sweating or swearing! If I swore every time I was in pain I wouldn't draw breath! They said that I could apply for another assessment which I did. And that time I gave them exactly what they wanted - I played their game! And they awarded me one. It sounds very cynical but they wanted outward demonstrations of pain so I gave it them. If you're anything like me you try your best to drive through the pain and not go on about it all the time but don't hold back - really lay it on thick.

Good luck - don't let the buggers grind you down - I remember feeling exactly like you - don't give up. Xx

StillMedusa · 24/04/2020 00:39

Similar experience here... DS2 has multiple conditions (physical..wears leg braces and autism)and had a blue badge from childhood. When we changed to PIP he was still awarded highest rate for both care and mobility... but refused a blue badge ..as he had 12 points (as can't travel independently) ..whereas with 10 he would have qualified. It's not automatic with PIP like it is with DLA.
What really annoyed us is that the criteria varies from county council to county council... where my Mum lives he would have been granted it, where I live..nope.
We mostly used it for his hospital appointments as he also has Ulcerative Colitis as well as his other disabilities and emergency toilet trips are a big feature..and he can't walk well or far.... ironically he could have a motabilty car if we wanted but not a badge....!

whodhavethunk · 24/04/2020 01:11

I feel your pain - literally and metaphorically. It makes you feel like you made the whole thing up or imagined it when they do things like this doesn't it. I am so sorry you have had to go through this. But, when you have the mental capacity do try your best to appeal it. I say this knowing from experience that this is easier said than done. Good luck OP and look after yourself. Big virtual hug FlowersFlowers

x2boys · 24/04/2020 07:14

Really @StillMedusa?That sounds ludicrous!

earlydoors42 · 24/04/2020 08:28

Could you appeal and use the wording from the PIP assessment - you can walk over 100m but you can't do it safely, reliably, repeatedly and in a timely manner?

noavailablename · 24/04/2020 08:36

I think it is now the norm for everything to be rejected first time. Like carer's/ attendance allowance etc.
The mistake you made was struggling through the assessment.
Next time, take your rollator and don't struggle through your pain.
It is hideous the way people are treated like fraudsters.
A relative was declined initially. Blind, cancer, had a stroke.
We took him to the assessment in his wheelchair the second time.

YappityYapYap · 24/04/2020 08:41

It's a blue badge for christ sake, to make someone's life easier. Rejecting it is just making someone's life harder when it costs them nothing really to give it to someone. Why would your condition suddenly be better than it was when you had the badge before? I don't think they use a lot of logic sometimes

Yellowbutterfly1 · 24/04/2020 10:19

I’ve never understood how it all works.
I have a autistic child/young adult with severe learning disability and also has hyper mobility.
Eventually managed to get enhanced rate for both when changed to PIP but not enough points for a Blue Badge, others in their special school with a lot less care needs and no mobility problems at all have had high rate mobility with car and Blue Badge since they were 5 years old.
I’ve given up trying to understand how they make their decisions.

I’d also like to know how they think my child will improve and suddenly not be disabled overnight but that’s for another thread. I’d like to see how they cope having a 3 year old in a 20 year olds body to care for.

Elieza · 24/04/2020 10:40

Go to the website for the charity(s) for your condition and see if there is any mention of a disability rights company that offers to help you fight for your rights. I know there are various ones but don’t know details. They can help you as they know what to help you say so the full picture of your disability is accurately and honestly explained. It may cost you £20 odds but worth it.

x2boys · 24/04/2020 11:04

Yeah it's crazy yellow ,ds has high rate care and mobility DLA but only after I went to a tribunal and it's only awarded untill.he is 12 he has severe autism and learning disabilities whichever school he would s at when he's 12 it will be one for severe and complex disabilities he isn't suddenly not going to be disabled .

Chewbecca · 24/04/2020 11:12

Appeal, plus you need to apply on the basis of what you can do on your worst days, not your best.

Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 13:27

I've had a go at writing my appeal letter. Could you guys help me by reading it through and letting me know if I missed out something important or included irrelevant stuff?

I'm not in the UK but the rules are pretty much the same as they're set by the EU.

OP posts:
Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 13:28

Dear Sir or Madam

RE:Renewable of disabled parking permit decision

I would like to appeal against the decision to reject my application to renew my disabled parking permit as I feel that a mistake has been made. I have had a disabled parking permit for more than 20 years because of my disabiltiy. This was my fifth renewal application and I have never had any problems in the past. My condition has not changed and this decision was based on the same medical report as my previous successful renewal.

My application has been rejected on the basis that the medical report says that I can walk more than 100 m, but what hasn't been taken into account this time is the pain this causes me. I have fibromyalgia, hypermobility in my hips, and trochanteric bursitis and I cannot walk without pain which escalates very quickly to unbearable levels. I cannot push through the pain because this will completely incapacitate me later. i already do not go out as often as I want to because I cannot cope with the pain and I already struggle to walk at all in the evenings and have days where I am bed bound because of the pain.

I currently need a rollator to walk short distances but sometimes, if I am alone, I have to manage without it as I don't always have the strength to lift it out of the car. Having a disabled parking permit enables me to still make these journeys and gives me independence.

I therefore ask you to review my application because I have significant difficulties in moving on my own, which I understand to be the legal requirement for being issued with a disabled parking permit.

I apologise for writing this in English. I also have autism and normally receive support from boendestöd at home with communicating with outside people in Swedish. Unfortunately due to the current situation with coronavirus I do not have this help as I am high risk so need to limit my social contact.

Yours faithfully

OP posts:
Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 13:33

Should I put a line in about how I already avoid many situations because there is too much walking involved and occasionally, when it cannot be avoided, I have to use a wheelchair which I get through my GP?

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 24/04/2020 13:46

I’d reword this

currently need a rollator to walk short distances but sometimes, if I am alone, I have to manage without it as I don't always have the strength to lift it out of the car. Having a disabled parking permit enables me to still make these journeys and gives me independence.

The bit about you sometimes having to manage without makes it sound that you’re not as bad as you really are.

I’d just say ’i now have to use a rollator for short distances over 10m although on my worst days, I require the use of a wheelchair, which reduces my independence’

Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 14:57

I see what you mean about that bit. I need to keep it in but reword it to get across what I'm trying to say, which is that I really need to use my rollator all the time but sometimes I can't so struggling to do things is even harder and not having access to a disabled space would then make it impossible. Sweden places a great importance on getting out and about and independence, regardless of age or disability so I need to stress how much this decision takes away from me. But I can't get the wording quite right.

OP posts:
Sparticuscaticus · 24/04/2020 15:09

This is better

’i use a rollator for distances over 10m and cannot walk anywhere near (better if it's less , so would 50m be accurate?) 100m without mobility aid, great pain and fatigue, after which I need to rest as it incapacitates me for hours afterwards. On my worst days, I require the use of a GP prescribed wheelchair outside, which reduces my independence’

The criteria for DPB from HMGov website for those not automatically qualifying due to points on PIP /AA (or other benefits) relevant to you is

•	you cannot walk at all
•	you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids
•	you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes

Quote that - I suspect 2 & 3 apply for you-

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

Sparticuscaticus · 24/04/2020 15:09

Ah, are you in Sweden? Look
Up their criteria online as you'll want that not UK's one.

Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 15:36

i use a rollator for distances over 10m and cannot walk anywhere near (better if it's less , so would 50m be accurate?) 100m without mobility aid, great pain and fatigue, after which I need to rest as it incapacitates me for hours afterwards. On my worst days, I require the use of a GP prescribed wheelchair outside, which reduces my independence

This is definitely better wording. I don't use a wheelchair on my worst days though, I just don't go out at all. I very rarely go any where or do anything that requires being on my feet for more than 5 minutes. I might go to the supermarket for milk and bread but a full shop would have me crying with pain by the time I got home and the shopping would sit in the car for days until I felt able to deal with it.

I don't have a wheelchair as such. What happens is that if something is happening which will require more walking, that cannot be avoided, eg family holiday or day out then I borrow a wheelchair just for that and give it back at the end. This has to be planned way in advance so only happens a couple of times a year. I do need to think about getting one more permanently as I miss out on quite a lot but, I don't know why, I just can't bring myself to do it. I know it's wrong but I just feel so embarrassed when I use a chair and think everyone is judging me for being fat and lazy.

OP posts:
Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 15:40

I'm struggling to express myself in a way that honestly explains my need. I thought that's what the medical report was supposed to do, after all it has in the past.

OP posts:
Original poster
MashedPotatoBrainz · 24/04/2020 15:43

What a difference to when I got my first here. I already had a UK badge but it was about to expire . I went into the council offices to find out what I needed to do and the lady who came down to see me was so kind and renewed it while I waited as she said it was obvious from looking at me that I needed one.

OP posts:
BendyLikeBeckham · 24/04/2020 15:49

OP, my mum refused a wheelchair for a long time because she didn't want to look and feel 'old'. Despite her actually being elderly Hmm. And she didn't want to feel dependent and feeble.

Anyway, as soon as she relented and got one, her world opened up and she realised that it didn't take away her independence, it gave her more.

She got a lightweight one that even with her medical conditions she could lift out of the car by herself and unfold (from behind the front seat not the boot which is higher).

Best of luck with the appeal. Get a supporting letter if you can from your GP or other health/social care professional. People in authority respect expert opinions a hundred times more than your opinion (even though you know your health best)