1 in 20 people have a blue badge?

Oodlesofnoodlez · 2025-01-07T16:54:39+00:00

So I’ve just had to battle to get a family member a blue badge, they receive high rate of everything and immobile but still a complete battle. so I’m thinking ‘ok it must be very very difficult to get therefore hardly any must be issued’…. Nope figures from 22-23 show almost 5% that’s 2.6 million people have a blue badge. surely these figures cannot be correct? will it be completely impossible to find disabled spaces now we’ve got the badge? we are in the SE

Latelifelesbian · 07/01/2025 16:57

If they get high mobility it shouldn’t have been a battle to get so sorry to hear that! I have a blue badge and generally don’t have too much issue finding parking.
they aren’t easy to get but a lot more people have disabilities than people think.

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 16:58

Phew thank you. I totally get 1 in 10 people class themselves as disabled so it makes sense but I was just shocked because it took us literally having to put them on a zoom call in the end to a decision maker.

maybe we just had a bad experience. It took so much mental energy I feel deflated now that we probably won’t be able to get spaces for them anywhere?

OP posts:

LittleRedRidingHoody · 07/01/2025 17:03

I have never had a problem finding a disabled spot for DM, and we're generally out and about multiple times a day. I know people do complain, but personally I've never had an issue.

JanuaryCrow · 07/01/2025 17:09

Do they receive high level PIP? That should automatically lead to a Blue Badge.

Or do they receive Attendance Allowance, the disability benefit for those of pension age? I've always thought that contained the inbuilt problem of not having a mobility component, so claimants have to go through yet another stage of bureaucracy to obtain a Blue Badge at a time of their lives when many could do without the extra paperwork and tech engagement.

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:09

Yes highest rate pip for both (paper based too) and still all of this hassle :(

OP posts:

Kitkat1523 · 07/01/2025 17:11

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:09

Yes highest rate pip for both (paper based too) and still all of this hassle :(

Anyone with pip mobility is entitled to a blue badge…my Dd has low rate mobility and got it no problem because she is entitled

MidnightPatrol · 07/01/2025 17:13

Latest issue with this in my area, is that the council will give you a disabled parking space outside your house if you have one…

… meaning a new disabled space pops up every day.

Not ideal for everyone else, as it has drastically reduced the number of spaces for other residents - and most of the cars never move.

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:13

Kitkat1523 · 07/01/2025 17:11

Anyone with pip mobility is entitled to a blue badge…my Dd has low rate mobility and got it no problem because she is entitled

Show quote history

This is so strange this was what I thought so having to literally jump through all these hoops something must have gone wrong?

we got it in the end but I cannot believe how difficult it was. Whole process took 6+ months and they’ve been on high rate pip over 6 years

OP posts:

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:14

MidnightPatrol · 07/01/2025 17:13

Latest issue with this in my area, is that the council will give you a disabled parking space outside your house if you have one…

… meaning a new disabled space pops up every day.

Not ideal for everyone else, as it has drastically reduced the number of spaces for other residents - and most of the cars never move.

Yes they said we could apply for this but really wouldn’t want to incase somone needed it more ?

OP posts:

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:15

Also some neighbours as so nosy I bet they love reporting people once they see a numbered bay haha.

OP posts:

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:16

At my local shopping centre they had about 30 disabled spaces which were always full. They've redone the car park and added approx 20 more - still all full every time I've been there whether it's weekday/weekend, morning or afternoon. It never used to be like this.

I think I could probably get a disabled badge for my son (autistic) but I never would because he really doesn't need it and is no longer a runner etc. I do wonder if some people apply for one when they don't really need it.

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:17

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:16

At my local shopping centre they had about 30 disabled spaces which were always full. They've redone the car park and added approx 20 more - still all full every time I've been there whether it's weekday/weekend, morning or afternoon. It never used to be like this.

I think I could probably get a disabled badge for my son (autistic) but I never would because he really doesn't need it and is no longer a runner etc. I do wonder if some people apply for one when they don't really need it.

This is it I just can’t believe 1 in 20 people in the country have one but it was sooo hard to get. Some councils must just be handing them out?!

OP posts:

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:17

Although I appreciate that shopping centre spaces aren't as enforceable as on street parking.

UncharteredWaters · 07/01/2025 17:18

Round here it appears that getting one even with high rate mobility is hard as hell. Many wheelchair users report struggling.

Getting one because you have a mental health issue seems pretty easy.

Fb seems full off - they ignored my diagnosed orthopaedic condition but once I said my mh was suffering and it aggravated my depression…..

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:19

UncharteredWaters · 07/01/2025 17:18

Round here it appears that getting one even with high rate mobility is hard as hell. Many wheelchair users report struggling.

Getting one because you have a mental health issue seems pretty easy.

Fb seems full off - they ignored my diagnosed orthopaedic condition but once I said my mh was suffering and it aggravated my depression…..

Eh?! I mean of course no shade to those with MH problems and of course they need them too but surely, just surely actual mobility physically takes priority ?

OP posts:

JustForThePicture · 07/01/2025 17:19

Hmm. Seems a little goady to me.

Kitkat1523 · 07/01/2025 17:21

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:19

Eh?! I mean of course no shade to those with MH problems and of course they need them too but surely, just surely actual mobility physically takes priority ?

Show quote history

Why?

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:23

Going off on a slight tangent here but I also don't know how things work if someone is elderly but doesn't receive any benefits etc? Can they apply for a blue badge?

I'm only asking as MIL always parks in disabled spaces but doesn't have a BB - she is elderly/ infirm and uses a stick so she does need a bit of space to get out and be near to the destination, but is she in the wrong parking without the badge?

Unpaidviewer · 07/01/2025 17:23

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:19

Eh?! I mean of course no shade to those with MH problems and of course they need them too but surely, just surely actual mobility physically takes priority ?

Show quote history

Do they need them too? Surely the extra space and closeness to the shops is because of mobility issues. I don't understand why someone with MH issues would need one.

mitogoshigg · 07/01/2025 17:24

We were offered one for dd when we applied for her disability bus pass, her eligibility was because she can never drive (seizures) rather than mobility but our council automatically gave you a blue badge in such circumstances, they were bemused I turned it down but she can walk, she had just got her DofE!

LittleRedRidingHoody · 07/01/2025 17:24

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:23

Going off on a slight tangent here but I also don't know how things work if someone is elderly but doesn't receive any benefits etc? Can they apply for a blue badge?

I'm only asking as MIL always parks in disabled spaces but doesn't have a BB - she is elderly/ infirm and uses a stick so she does need a bit of space to get out and be near to the destination, but is she in the wrong parking without the badge?

Yes she should get a blue badge and can get fined if she's not using one. She needs to apply online (or have someone help her)

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:25

@LittleRedRidingHoody Thank you - we have said to her that she should have a badge but she seems to think she doesn't need one. I will get DH to have a chat to her and sort it out.

TigerRag · 07/01/2025 17:25

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:23

Going off on a slight tangent here but I also don't know how things work if someone is elderly but doesn't receive any benefits etc? Can they apply for a blue badge?

I'm only asking as MIL always parks in disabled spaces but doesn't have a BB - she is elderly/ infirm and uses a stick so she does need a bit of space to get out and be near to the destination, but is she in the wrong parking without the badge?

Of course she's wrong to park there without a badge

If she really needs to park there, why hasn't she applied for a blue badge?

Original poster

Oodlesofnoodlez · 07/01/2025 17:26

JustForThePicture · 07/01/2025 17:19

Hmm. Seems a little goady to me.

Sorry?

OP posts:

batshitaboutcatshit · 07/01/2025 17:27

@TigerRag see above! She's quite erm, "stubborn".