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Blue Badge application refused

Meagles

Hi
My wife Jolanda has limited mobility due to cancer affecting the spine and bones. She can only walk short distances with the aid of a rollator or frame. My application on her behalf for a Blue Badge has been refused, asking for more evidence which I can request, but also advising that a Blue Badge is only provided to people who can walk a max of 50m, aided or unaided. Is that correct in general or is it a local guideline?
Thanks
Mike

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Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Meagles

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's health, I hope you are both getting support?

The Gov website says, those who automatically can get a Blue Badge:

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and at least one of the following applies:

you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component)

you are registered blind (severely sight impaired)

you receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress

For those who could get a Blue Badge:

You may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies:

you cannot walk at all

you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids

you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes

walking is dangerous to your health and safety

you have a life limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form

you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines

you have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment

you have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment

you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks

you struggle severely to plan or follow a journey

you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others

you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control

you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces

I hope that helps

Meagles

Thanks @Hannah_Scope very helpful. Not getting any support for disability at the moment - the focus is on the cancer treatment. Don't need financial support but do feel short of advice and guidance on things like this.
So the 50m rule is a thing for automatic blue badge eligibility though not clear whether that is 50m with a mobility aid. I will press Lambeth on the may be eligible bullet points 2-5 which all apply to Jolanda.
Regards
Mike

Hannah_Alumni

Have you had Macmillan reach out yet? If not, I'd encourage you to reach out to them. They are fantastic to advise and guide

Hopefully they will be able to approve the Blue Badge on those points. Please keep us updated!

poppy123456

The 50m rule doesn’t automatically qualify her, it says “maybe entitled to.”

You only automatically qualify if you receive a qualifying disability benefit. Or you’re registered blind.

2oldcodgers

poppy123456 said:

The 50m rule doesn’t automatically qualify her, it says “maybe entitled to.”

You only automatically qualify if you receive a qualifying disability benefit. Or you’re registered blind.

The 50m rule to qualify relates only to PIP - 8 points.
I have been through this many times with my wife who cannot claim PIP due to her age, and according to my council's policy there is no mention of a 50m rule for those without a PIP award.
It seems that it is entirely down to the council's assessor on their opinion as to whether there is a case of walking being very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes. It depends entirely on whether the assessor wants to be lenient or obstructive.

Meagles

Thanks @poppy123456, @2oldcodgers. My wife is now applying for PIP which may help but not for a while. Naively I thought this would be straightforward. Lambeth seem to be saying that anyone who can walk 50m with a mobility aid will not qualify. I don't believe that is correct and will ask for a review on the basis of pain, breathlessness and time taken backed up by a physio assessment.

poppy123456

Meagles said:

Thanks @poppy123456, @2oldcodgers. My wife is now applying for PIP which may help but not for a while. Naively I thought this would be straightforward. Lambeth seem to be saying that anyone who can walk 50m with a mobility aid will not qualify. I don't believe that is correct and will ask for a review on the basis of pain, breathlessness and time taken backed up by a physio assessment.

All local Authorities have their own rules outside of automatically qualifying. My LA doesn't have a maximum walking distance, it just says experience considerable difficulty whilst walking as part of a journey, as certified by an expert assessor

Ollyoyster

Hia, i hope your wife gets it, semding big hugs and luck ck xx i have applied last week for a blue badge, as i can nkt walk fast or far, i crossed a road other day and the car spedbup from nowhere and i physically could not run, it really frightened me, so i have applied, bit reading tbis i guess i wont get it 😳,, i have opted for a temporary one as hopefully once i get my new knees i wont need one!?! X

2oldcodgers

Meagles said:

Thanks @poppy123456, @2oldcodgers. My wife is now applying for PIP which may help but not for a while. Naively I thought this would be straightforward. Lambeth seem to be saying that anyone who can walk 50m with a mobility aid will not qualify. I don't believe that is correct and will ask for a review on the basis of pain, breathlessness and time taken backed up by a physio assessment.

Would an electric scooter be classed as an aid?
I doubt it.
Personally I would look at Lambeth's policy on this. As Poppy has said, the 50m rule is only relevant for PIP claims/awards.
I cannot find any general policy that should be the backbone of your council's where a distance is mentioned.