SOCIAL SERVICES, HELPFUL? WHAT A JOKE!!

[butty]

After my recent thread about the Blue badge scheme, i recieved my application from social services, but found that it was a bit difficult as all the questions are based on adult situs.
I rang them this morning for some advise regarding the form and the medical questionnaire for the gp to fill out, the lady said that i had to PP the form for dylan and get him to sign where possible!!
I explained that he was only 2.9 yrs old and with that she asked what the problem was, i explained that he has Hypotonia and Global deveopment delay as well as other things that he is still being tested for.
She then replied and said that i would be wasting my time applying as they dont give badges for global development delay and i stated that he cant walk and probably wont do for a long long time, her responses were that he has to be totally disabled and have a permanent problem with walking not just for the forseeable future.

IS SHE RIGHT???? or just very unhelpful, obnoxious and very patronising???

All responses and advise would be greatly appreciated, sorry that thread is long, just very angry.

not right- easiest way is to get higher rate mobility then get automatic blue badge (this is what I did for my severely autistic son). I'm not sure you can do that before 3 though.

Incidentally I was told by he dla "helpline|" that we weren';t entitled. I told them they were wrong so could I have the forms please. Filled them in-= hey presto higher rate mobility then automatic blu badge.

i have been sent the forms for mobility and higher rate DLA as been told that middle rate is no longer an option now that he is getting older and not much improvement since last september, but was told that could apply for blue badge from 2 years old, and her judging my sons physical disabilities by a label of GDD is appaling.!!

I will send the forms back along with all his reports and then see what they say.

No, she is not right. My dp got a blue badge whilst suffering with cancer treatment - NOT (I hope) a permanent illness. so no, you don't have to be permanently disabled, and lots of people hope not to be permanently disabled.

i know that he will be entitled as there is no chance of him walking 10 steps, let alone unaided in the next 6 - 12 months.
He has real problems with his feet and ankles as well as hypotonia from his hips down.
She was very patronising and i feel like making a complaint about her after the conversation this morning.
I thought people in social services were trained to deal with situations and help fill in forms, not dismiss and give wrongful information.??

I work in a special needs team for under 5's and work with a number of children with global development delay, we advise all our parents to apply for a blue badge if their child is not walking 4 or so months before their 3rd birthday. None of these parents have ever been told they won't get a badge for GDD, as these children are delayed in all areas of their development not just their physical skills. Please try again and do not be put off by red tape. You and your child are entitled to this.

She is wrong, I think you should complain if you can bear it.

Ignore her and apply

I handle the admin of the Blue Badge Scheme. First thing I will mention is that not all areas follow the same procedures. In our area we ask parents who are signing on behalf of their children to sign in the parents name and then in brackets put 'parent', also do this on the sticky label.

The criteria for the badge (nationwide) is that a person has a 'permanent' disability. That is the criteria issued by the government. Maybe some have slipped through the net.

I think they are tightening up on care badges as a lot of people have got one in the past when really they shouldn't have ( not accusing anyone on here, but fit and healthy people). The likes of them have spoilt it for those who do need one.

In our area if you have higher rate mobility you are entitled automatically to a Blue Badge. If not the application form goes to a care manager, if they can make a decision based on what you have written, they will. If not then I will send a form to the GP (who receives a fee, and it is the GP who receives it, not a paeditrician, consultant etc). Once the Care Manager receives the form from the GP then they make their decision whether to issue or not. However if they reject the application, you are well within your rights to query that decision.

Hope that helps - if you have any other query, feel free to ask

oops mean tightening up on car badges not care badges

My bil has one after having a stroke. No-one knows how long he will be disabled or how disabled he will be iyswim.

Also forgot to mention (it's been a long day) that a car badge has an expiry date of three years, and after that you have to re-apply again. Therefore if the disability looks set to last for more than three years then you should be entitled but for someone who has broke their leg they wouldn't.

thanks for that advise saffy,
I dont usually get wound up about things like this, i just knock it on the head as far more important things to worry about, its just that i didnt like her attitude towards me.
She was probably thinking "out for what she can get" as you stated can happen, but i am not like that.
I attent loads of appointments at the hospital and it would help if i could get a parking space, let alone one near by, he doesnt walk and sometimes cant take the buggy as the hospital provide them whilst i am there.