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Trying to renew a Blue badge

11 replies

Lavender21 · 20/06/2021 14:13

My DH has a debilitating back condition, which will only get worse.
He has had a blue badge for nine years now, the last time it was renewed very easily.
This time the council have said he is not entitled to one now.
He sent all his medical evidence with the claim,and they said he had to have a phone assessment, which he did for an hour.
They turned him down, saying he had not met the conditions needed.
He has trouble walking, he is always in pain when walking and walks slowly with a limp. He gets out of breath and the pain travels down his legs form his back. He uses a walking stick.
He needs to be able to open his door fully to be able to pull himself up on the door. Last week he had to park in a normal sized space and it caused a flare up in his back, due to not having enough room to get his legs out and be able to pull himself up. One of his legs gave way. This pain lasted for four days.
He is now saying he won't bother going out much, as he knows he'll be in pain for several days afterwards now.
He did mention needing extra room for his door during the assessment but obviously it had no bearing on his application.
It just seems unfair that they basically don't seem to care how this will affect him.
Is there anything else we can do ?
Sorry that was bit longer than I intended.

OP posts:
tribpot · 20/06/2021 14:22

Citizens Advice have a section on how to appeal a blue badge decision.

I haven't been through this myself as my DH receives PIP, so the blue badge process is very straightforward for us. But I hope you are able to sort this out. In the meantime, are there any way you can make things more comfortable - if you go out together, presumably you can pull the car out of a parking spot so he can open the door fully?

Nsky · 20/06/2021 14:24

Appeal, make it worse this time

Lavender21 · 20/06/2021 14:30

I don't actually drive Shock so I can't pull out for him and I am not always in the car with him.
He does get PIP but no points for mobility, as he can walk although he's pain. He is on ESA in the support group.
The assessment was almost the same as a PIP one. They asked if we go on holiday, if he works and what benefits he receives.

OP posts:
tribpot · 20/06/2021 14:38

It sounds like learning to drive might be a useful precaution anyway, in case his condition gets too bad to drive himself? Or do you have an underlying issue that prevents you from learning?

Lavender21 · 20/06/2021 14:42

Yes I do actually.

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Binglebong · 20/06/2021 14:48

A lot of people are having renewals turned down for a BB right now. It's worth appealing with lots of evidence. There may be a local charity who can help you with this, they usually focus on things like PIP forms but do BBs too. I know you don't want to use the energy but do fight it rather than give up part of life.

Orangesox · 20/06/2021 14:49

No lived advice I’m afraid, I’m in the same situation as your husband with regards to having to have the door wide open to get in the car with my spinal condition. Sadly I have to park right at the back of carparks along paths or hatched areas etc. It’s an absolute pain Sad

Appeal, appeal and appeal again if required. There’s no such thing as a “standard” disability and given that individuals with invisible disabilities are now eligible to apply for a blue badge, they should be considering your husbands pain levels alongside his actual capacity for movement.

Lavender21 · 20/06/2021 15:01

@Binglebong
It is tempting to give in but we will fight it. We did give plenty of evidence. Bearing in mind he has successfully applied three times and got one and his back is worse now, are they saying he should never have had one in the first place ?
@Orangesox It is so infuriating, he has appealed once but they have said he can appeal again. Your last paragraph is very true.

OP posts:
Binglebong · 20/06/2021 16:52

No, definitely not. I don't work with applications for BBs myself but a colleague and said recently that a lot of people who had them previously are having to go through this. She thinks it is because they have opened up to invisible illnesses and it's to try to keep overall numbers down.

One thing she has told me to that you should go by his worst days, not his best. Good luck!

Lavender21 · 20/06/2021 17:01

@BInglebong

Yes, that is what we thought too. It just doesn't seem fair but we will keep on trying.

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