Will my mum get a blue badge?

[Dudmud]

She has arthritis in her knees; never leaves the house and only walks in the garden; I think she has been outside 3 or 4 times in the car with my father. She is worried that she'll fall over as she has fallen over 3 or 4 times in the past 12 months.

However, she has thrown away most of her hospital appointments and letters, so there isn't much for me to upload in the evidence section. Also, the GP have stopped bothering, and she hasn't had a face to face appointment in 12 + months.

Do they do home visits because it will be clear to them just how unwell she is.

Can you set up the nhs app for her so you can access patient records. I did this for my mil for whom I did a blue badge application. No one came out to visit.

ISTR that the form asks for your doctor's details so that they can be contacted.

As another issue, does she claim Attendance Allowance (which isn't means tested.)

Ask for her HP records for the last year or so under FOI.

They may charge but all the letters will be there.

You need to do the online application for your local authority.
By working through the form ( you don't need submit it- do it as a practise exercise) you will soon see if your mum is eligible.
They do contact GPs so there is no need for her to provide evidence, only a description of what she can't do.

I will warn you that the criteria are very strict. I tried filling in the form for my 96 year old Dad and he wouldn't be eligible as he can walk 100 yards (or whatever it asked.)

This is the simplest solution, provided you live in England and can therefore access the NHS app. You can download and print everything you need. Blue badges are very difficult to get and the rules differ in different places.

I can’t access records on my nhs app

Can your mum walk short distances? If she can it's not likely she will qualify anyway.

MIL has a blue badge and she can walk reasonable distances. It's about more than that one measure.

Maybe it differs with local authorities?
I thought my dad would get it even just on age, but no.

She doesn't claim anything. She was ok until a fall last year. No lasting physical damage but she has become very mentally frail when has impacted her.

If she doesnt go anywhere, why does she need a blue badge? Are you after free parking?

She can walk around the garden for 2-3 minutes, with a walking stick.

Blue badge parking isnt always free. Just nearer wherever you need to be.

She has had face to face doctor appointments which she has had to rearrange to phone consultations because she cannot walk from the car park to the GP surgery.

Not interested in free parking.

They want the PIP letter that says she has mobility issues. She should apply for this if she hasn't already.

It depend on your council as to if she’ll get one.

my council are quite easy to get one from.

you do have to be in receipt of DLA (children’s disability payment) PIP (the adult version of the disability payment or Attendance Allowance (the retired persons disability payment) and have a mobility need.

my council has loads of issues which they give them out for (that’s why you can never get a disabled space, as every man and his dog has one)

It differs enormously between local authorities.

Hospitals where I live don't offer free parking to blue badge holders, just a paid space nearer the entrance. It is helpful though, not to have to pay for a taxi (which can take you to the entrance or drop off point) every time you need a blood test, GP appointment or have to attend hospital - which tends to be quite frequently if you are elderly and very unwell. Just for example: I can still go on the bus to hospital, but I can see the day coming when I won't be able to get on or off the bus. The hospital charges about £4 per hour to park, a taxi there and back from where I live would be around £20 each way.

I get PIP and a blue badge and have RA.

I would strongly suggest she applies for PIP or see if she will be eligible. Then if she gets enough points in the mobility section they will allow a BB

You can’t apply for PIP after retirement age

On a side note she should ask the GP for a referal to the falls clinic.

Ah never knew that!

My nans on PIP, can you claim if you started receiving it before you retired?

You can carry on with PIP after retirement age if you still fulfil the criteria. Otherwise you apply for attendance allowance

My dad gets AA but doesn't qualify for a blue badge. Very strict criteria where he lives.