Blue badge

madee93

Can anyone offer any advice or experience on applying for a blue badge...how long does it take...what does the process include
..will i have to see.someone face to face...what questions do they ask...how is it assessed...is it hard to be accepted...i have nerve damage to my foot /leg from cauda equina syndrome and wondering if i can manage the mental stress of applying for it as still awaiting pip descision 
Thanks 

Alex_Alumni

Hi there @madee93 the process of applying for a blue badge differs depending on your local authority. Some local authorities will only accept certain evidence, and others will take into account other factors. 

I had to fill out a form and include the evidence of my PIP award when I needed to renew my blue badge. I'm afraid I can't remember as far back as when I applied for the first time! 

It often helps to have someone support you with the application, do you have anyone you trust to run through it all with you?

madee93

@Alex_Scope thanks...so does pip mobility not automatically qualify u for a blue badge then? Yes i have someone but they have no further knowledge or experience than me 

Alex_Alumni

For most councils I would assume it does help you qualify yes, what I meant was that if you don't have PIP, there may be other ways to qualify- but it does depend which council. Does that make sense @madee93?

Hopefully if and when you do apply you can tackle it together  

2oldcodgers

madee93 said:

Can anyone offer any advice or experience on applying for a blue badge...how long does it take...what does the process include
..will i have to see.someone face to face...what questions do they ask...how is it assessed...is it hard to be accepted...i have nerve damage to my foot /leg from cauda equina syndrome and wondering if i can manage the mental stress of applying for it as still awaiting pip descision 
Thanks 

Wand have full supporting eveidence of what you say. On top of that you will ithout having the automatic entitlement via the right level of PIP award, you are still entitled to apply for a BB. As others have said, each council does their own thing with assessing you. Filling the form out is the easy bit, the assessment process is the worst. It's much like the face to face PIP assessment where you are watched throughout. You have to convince them that you have a genuine need for a BB. My council then carry out a walking test around a multi storey car park with traffic cones marking out a course you must follow. There is a timed part of it to see how quick/slow you walk the circuit.
My wife (80) has had 3 such assessments over the past few years and each time she was refused a BB. Her fault really as she always puts a brave face on everything and 'pretends' to be able to finish the course in time as she does with everything else in life. 

poppy123456

madee93 said:

@Alex_Scope thanks...so does pip mobility not automatically qualify u for a blue badge then? Yes i have someone but they have no further knowledge or experience than me 

No, not always. It depends what your award is. For England if you scored at least 8 points in the moving around part of mobility you will automatically qualify.

If you scored 10 points for following and planning a journey because you can not undertake any journey (1E) then you will automatically qualify. Any other descriptor doesn't automatically qualify you.

madee93

@poppy123456 automatically as in i wouldnt need an assessment .? Ive had my report back and ive scored 22 for mobility a 10 & a 12.

poppy123456

Yes automatically and no assessment will be needed. You will just need to send a copy of your PIP award (if you score in the correct descriptors) once the decision is made. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/help-for-disabled-travellers1/blue-badge-scheme/applying-for-a-blue-badge/