Blue badge assessment

Tina12

Hi all,
Just wanted to ask if anyone has had a blue badge assessment recently and how was it for you and is it the same as pip assessment and LCWRA assessment..? If anyone could give me a heads up please
Thankyou in advance 🙏😊

Alex_Alumni

Hi @Tina12 I applied for my blue badge quite some time ago now, but from what I recall it was a form from my local authority. It's not the same as a PIP assessment or LCWRA assessment, but there are some similar questions. 

Are you thinking of applying?

Tina12

Hi @Alex_Scope
Yes I have applied and waiting for assessment date now ..hoping it want be a long assessment and to stressful 🙄

Hannah_Alumni

Hopefully it won't be @Tina12

Do you have any hobbies you like to do, to keep your mind off it?  

2oldcodgers

The assessment from what I know locally is held in a private multi storey car park with traffic cones laid out to see how you walk on a twisting circuit and of course the distance you can walk before falling over because of pain/breathlessness.

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

The assessment from what I know locally is held in a private multi storey car park with traffic cones laid out to see how you walk on a twisting circuit and of course the distance you can walk before falling over because of pain/breathlessness.

That wouldn't happen if someone was claiming for mental health reasons. Not everyone with a BB will have one because of physical reasons.

Tina12

Thank you for your input everyone @2oldcodgers @poppy123456 an @Hannah_Scope ..great advice and input 

Luna51

2oldcodgers said:

The assessment from what I know locally is held in a private multi storey car park with traffic cones laid out to see how you walk on a twisting circuit and of course the distance you can walk before falling over because of pain/breathlessness.

Blimey that sounds rather draconian - is that true?
If so, I'm am shocked!! 

2oldcodgers

Luna51 said:

Blimey that sounds rather draconian - is that true?
If so, I'm am shocked!! 

It was 3 years ago when my wife had to have the test for mobility. She failed the course after about 10 feet!
Yes there were mini traffic cones laid out at different distances but they wouldn't disclose what the distances were. They tried to make it a little more difficult by making you turn left and then right whilst walking. Before the test they interviewed her asking what her medical diagnoses were and she had to show them a copy of her repeat prescription and her high rate AA award.

Tina12

@Luna51 and @2oldcodgers thankyou so much for your input..it sounds bloody terrible what they put you through talk about discrimination and more ..well I finally have my appointment come through post for it ..🤕

2oldcodgers

Tina12 said:

@Luna51 and @2oldcodgers thankyou so much for your input..it sounds bloody terrible what they put you through talk about discrimination and more ..well I finally have my appointment come through post for it ..🤕

I wouldn't say that it was discrimination more a case of tightening up the procedures so as to sift out those who chance their luck. Previously there was a huge outcry of BB being handed out with no assessment and just based on what you put on the application form. Nothing has changed really instead BB are 'borrowed' by family members and friends. One person I know quite well used his deceased grandmother's BB for over 2 years after her death! 
It certainly would help cut this type of abuse down if both the name of the holder and the photo were on the front of the badge and not the back.
Once I was sworn at when I was trying to park when two young 18 'ish males drove in front of me. They told me to get a f********g wheel chair! They both then ran off leaving their car with a 'tatty' looking BB on the dashboard.

Alex_Alumni

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you in the past @2oldcodgers that's horrible. I'm sad to say we've had other members go through similar themselves. 

I think it's easy for people who lack awareness of disability and long term health conditions to make snap judgements, or to just be plain unkind, because 'their needs' are more important. It's unfair and discriminatory.  

Tina12

Hi all, Just an update on my blue badge assessment well sadly I was refused but I had a feeling after how the assessment went so I have appealed a few days ago got a reply today saying they are looking into it with a senior physiotherapists assessor and they will get back to me as soon as they've got the outcome from the assessor.. if anyone can tell me what is the appeal rate good or bad ?? Thank you in advance

2oldcodgers

Tina12 said:

Hi all, Just an update on my blue badge assessment well sadly I was refused but I had a feeling after how the assessment went so I have appealed a few days ago got a reply today saying they are looking into it with a senior physiotherapists assessor and they will get back to me as soon as they've got the outcome from the assessor.. if anyone can tell me what is the appeal rate good or bad ?? Thank you in advance

No idea but from experience of my wife's applications of three in three years all failed the assessments.
I never knew that there was an appeal system. The last time I asked about one but was told that officially there isn't one.

poppy123456

Tina12 said:

if anyone can tell me what is the appeal rate good or bad ?? Thank you in advance

That will be impossible to answer because all local Authorities have their own criteria outside of automatically qualifying.