Why do people question blue badge holders?

[TeenLifeMum]

I’ve seen comments over the years about people being challenged for not looking disabled. But they’re not easy to get - in fact they seem ridiculously challenging and dad might be dead by the time he bloody gets one. Medical records and consultant’s letter isn’t enough, he needs an interview… but they keep arranging the interview for when he’s having cancer treatment (every day so I appreciate it’s hard to schedule).

Just needed to vent.

I saw a warden being aggressively heckled by people when he was challenging someone displaying a blue badge. Thing is, it is abused sometimes by someone borrowing a relatives etc. and it's wrong to not allow wardens to do their jobs and do random checks if they're suspicious. There's a mentality sometimes that people using disabled badges should not be challenged or checked.

@viques I get what you are saying, but how can someone check the badge is not being abused when the photo ID of the holder isn't visible to passersby. someone could be using a badge because of autism or learning disabilities, those conditions don't have a "look", how would you know? What about illnesses like fibromyalgia or ME/CFS? Heart issues?

How are you sure your neighbour is able bodied unless he has told you? I look able bodied on a good day when I'm not using my mobility aids but I actually have a serious neuro issue.

Really? I think that you will find, that large numbers of disabled people object to Joe Bloggs, and random persons, thinking that they have the right to question people displaying a BB, in a BB space. The public have no right, to do that.

But wardens can ask to check and inspect the badge itself.
Rest of us, not a right to ask anyone anything. I have never seen anyone asked.

I would be happy to be asked to check. I wish they'd do it (and I also wish they'd fine people without BBs in the disabled spaces).

BB display in car parks that belong to supermarkets, cinemas, shopping centres are not mandatory by law. Though you can still get a private firm penalty if you do not display them. This is a tricky and annoying one. It depends on how tough the private parking company wants to be.

This thread has inspired me to check youtube and I have seen council officers doing so on street parking and giving notices or fines, plus seizing some badges. They said on one of those videos thar 1 in 4 badges is misused. Well, there is the problem.... That is why even if you do get a BB, still is very hard to park in some areas....

I would have no issue with being asked to have my badge checked, by a warden, no problem, at all.

There are not enough BB spaces in Town, where I live, which is a bit of a pain. If the bays closest to the shops are full, then I just have to park further away. It has not really occupied my mind that some may be parking by misusing a BB. The Council should be employing more wardens to go and check these things.

As said in my post, not Joe bloggs, but certainly traffic wardens should be allowed to get on with their jobs without intervention from 'Joe bloggs'....

Ok, but I can't begin to imagine why bystanders would get in the way of a traffic warden checking out a BB tough, but then strange things do happen, I guess.

I park on a permit/BB only road to take my daughter to school with my BB. I have a hidden disability and have been checked by a warden a couple of times. I’m more than happy to oblige as the number of cars chancing their luck made it difficult for genuine needs to park close to the school gates. I’ve not had any comments from Joe bloggs though, but the school is the only place I go so that may be part of it. Possibly more prevalent to have busy bodies in tescos.

Because they are knobs…

I do agree. It seems quite random.
When I was issued with my blue badge the process was lengthy and included in person assessments, but was still relatively straightforward.
Renewal time, I was flat out refused a badge, despite my disability being worse. I appealed but was turned down again then.

At this point, I would be enlisting the help of my local MP.

Have they? Have previous governments encouraged demonisation of disabled people? I think it's more to do with lazy arses being pissed off they can't just park where they like and/or have to pay to park elsewhere and thinking that someone with a blue badge is also on benefits and if the disability isn't visible they don't believe it exists, i.e. the disabled person is a fraud. This is not helped by a small number of people abusing the blue badge system.

Yes the Government has demonised disabled people, with their harmful rhetoric, in tandem with the press. Or maybe all those disabled people saying this, are just imagining it all🙄

Unfortunately, dm wouldn’t be able to push a wheelchair (due to her own health). Up until December this year both were fit and active, planning holidays etc. it is always scary how fast life can change.

cancer nurse doing dad’s radiotherapy today is horrified he didn’t qualify and has said she’ll sit with him and fill in the appeal form. In the scheme of things it’s minor but hassle they don’t need and I feel bad I’m not closer.

Sorry to hear that OP. I hope he gets it, and soon.

I have managed to claim attendance allowance and a disability living allowance. But the blue badge has to be a separate application! I now need another busy medical professional to upload a SR1 form yet again (DWP) already have this for the AA. However, the online form insists I submit it again. My dad will probably be dead by the time I receive it.

Yes because DWP and councils are nothing to do with each other so would both need to see the SR1. It's shame the health professional can't just give you a copy of the SR1 but since they started mainly sending them to the dwp electronically, it makes things more difficult now. If they just gave you a paper copy like they used to on request it would be much simpler. I ( as a benefits advisor) have the same problem. I can send in the AA form if I know the health professional has sent in the SR1 to DWP but then I don't have a copy to send to the council for a Blue badge. I get your frustration and hope you manage to sort it.

Can I just get a doctor to upload it? The nurse was going to print a copy but then said it wouldn't allow her too. When I explained I would need to upload it or get them to do it, she was really annoyed (not with with me) but with the system as she has enough to do. She said she would do it but to double check, it would need to be uploaded again if we have managed to claim AA. I feel bad asking them to upload it 😕

I would get an email address from the council to send it to and then ask the health professional to email it to them. Your dad being awarded AA isn't really significant here as AA has no mobility component unlike PIP where people can automatically be awarded a Blue badge based on their mobility award. I would think the council would really need to see the SR1 form to be able to issue a Blue badge under special rules. Each council is different though so speak to the council to see what they need.

@Imdunfer no where in the uk do you simply fill in an online form to say you need a blue badge, and then get it, without showing any evidence whatsoever.

no where

Are you accusing me of lying about how I got mine?

It's very clear from my experience that my Council decide to spend their money on other things than on policing applications for blue badges. Some of the processes described by other people must cost a flipping fortune.

You would have needed proof. You can't just say you can't walk and they'll give you a blue badge