Good News Story - my BB application.

BrettW

Well received my PIP award letter on 28th October with confirmation of my award and points allocation so decided to apply to my local council for a blue badge as I'm intending to go on to the motability scheme.

Filled out the application on the same day and submitted it to the GOV website.

Long story short got an email this morning to say that the application is approved and all I needed to do was pay the £10 fee for the badge. Phoned the council and spoke to a very helpful lady who took the payment and submitted the badge order to the Department of Transport whilst I was speaking to her on the phone. Got a couple of emails within a few minutes to confirm the order had been submitted and details of my badge (number, start / end dates, etc).

All in all the process has taken a grand total of 3 days and all I need to do now is wait for the DoT to post my badge. 

Wanted to post this here to show that there are some good news stories in regards to getting a blue badge as a lot of the time people only see the bad news stories and it can be very discouraging to anyone who wants to apply

Rosie_Scope

Great news, @BrettW  Thanks for sharing! It's always good to read some positive stories.

poppy123456

Great news! Sounds as easy as it is for my LA too.

2oldcodgers

BrettW said:

Well received my PIP award letter on 28th October with confirmation of my award and points allocation so decided to apply to my local council for a blue badge as I'm intending to go on to the motability scheme.

Filled out the application on the same day and submitted it to the GOV website.

Long story short got an email this morning to say that the application is approved and all I needed to do was pay the £10 fee for the badge. Phoned the council and spoke to a very helpful lady who took the payment and submitted the badge order to the Department of Transport whilst I was speaking to her on the phone. Got a couple of emails within a few minutes to confirm the order had been submitted and details of my badge (number, start / end dates, etc).

All in all the process has taken a grand total of 3 days and all I need to do now is wait for the DoT to post my badge. 

Wanted to post this here to show that there are some good news stories in regards to getting a blue badge as a lot of the time people only see the bad news stories and it can be very discouraging to anyone who wants to apply

Brilliant. So pleased that you managed to get the BB. I presume that it was via the automatic system.
My main issue is that I too am entitled to an automatic BB but that they want various bits of evidence. Award letter, current entitlement etc. All of the letters, reports etc where dated pre 2020 (2019 in fact) when the last renewal was applied for. The LA says that they cannot find these original documents so without them - no badge.
Getting copies is so hard with trying to get through to the PIP dept. Eventually back in June they said no problem we will get you copies but not of the letters amending your award etc. It went from NIL award to Enhanced Mobility & Care on MR.
Nothing so far 4 months later so I gave up the fight as it was so draining - hence no BB despite having a 10 year award for not being able to mobilise more than 1 metre safely. 

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

BrettW said:

Well received my PIP award letter on 28th October with confirmation of my award and points allocation so decided to apply to my local council for a blue badge as I'm intending to go on to the motability scheme.

Filled out the application on the same day and submitted it to the GOV website.

Long story short got an email this morning to say that the application is approved and all I needed to do was pay the £10 fee for the badge. Phoned the council and spoke to a very helpful lady who took the payment and submitted the badge order to the Department of Transport whilst I was speaking to her on the phone. Got a couple of emails within a few minutes to confirm the order had been submitted and details of my badge (number, start / end dates, etc).

All in all the process has taken a grand total of 3 days and all I need to do now is wait for the DoT to post my badge. 

Wanted to post this here to show that there are some good news stories in regards to getting a blue badge as a lot of the time people only see the bad news stories and it can be very discouraging to anyone who wants to apply

Brilliant. So pleased that you managed to get the BB. I presume that it was via the automatic system.
My main issue is that I too am entitled to an automatic BB but that they want various bits of evidence. Award letter, current entitlement etc. All of the letters, reports etc where dated pre 2020 (2019 in fact) when the last renewal was applied for. The LA says that they cannot find these original documents so without them - no badge.
Getting copies is so hard with trying to get through to the PIP dept. Eventually back in June they said no problem we will get you copies but not of the letters amending your award etc. It went from NIL award to Enhanced Mobility & Care on MR.
Nothing so far 4 months later so I gave up the fight as it was so draining - hence no BB despite having a 10 year award for not being able to mobilise more than 1 metre safely. 

That’s odd because in a previous comment you said you were contacted in 2019 to tell you a review had taken place and they extended your award for 10 years until 2029. Comment here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/724894#Comment_724894

Jimm_Alumni

I don't think oldcodgers is saying he didn't get a 10 year ward. But the letter he received only mentioned the length of the award, it didn't mention any change in award, despite there being a change in award? And they're refusing to send any letters confirming amendment of award.

Perhaps I've mis-read but that's what I got out of the comments.

BrettW

@2oldcodgers I did it through the .GOV website. They ask for 3 pages from the award letter and a passport photo to be uploaded. If you no longer have yours then all you need to do is ring the PIP helpline. If you ring at 9am you will get through a lot quicker but its not impossible at any time of the day so I don't quite understand why you are saying its being so stressful. They keep all copies of letters they send you on file so can easily provide you with any of them.

If they promised to send these then didn't then you need to chase them up. Unfortunately you've got to be prepared to help yourself in some cases and if four months later you still haven't received them then its on you to contact them and ask why and request new copies.

It all down to how much you really want your badge in your case unfortunately and seeing as a phonecall could easily solve your problem I really think you should just ring them and insist they send what you require.

poppy123456

Jimm_Scope said:

I don't think oldcodgers is saying he didn't get a 10 year ward. But the letter he received only mentioned the length of the award, it didn't mention any change in award, despite there being a change in award? And they're refusing to send any letters confirming amendment of award.

Perhaps I've mis-read but that's what I got out of the comments.

I'm not saying he didn't get the 10 year award. I'm saying that he said that DWP did a review and wrote to him with the decision back in 2019 that his award was extended to 2029 (10 years). Now he's saying that the decision was changed at MR stage in 2019...

He doesn't make things in life easy for himself.

2oldcodgers

poppy123456 said:

2oldcodgers said:

Brilliant. So pleased that you managed to get the BB. I presume that it was via the automatic system.
My main issue is that I too am entitled to an automatic BB but that they want various bits of evidence. Award letter, current entitlement etc. All of the letters, reports etc where dated pre 2020 (2019 in fact) when the last renewal was applied for. The LA says that they cannot find these original documents so without them - no badge.
Getting copies is so hard with trying to get through to the PIP dept. Eventually back in June they said no problem we will get you copies but not of the letters amending your award etc. It went from NIL award to Enhanced Mobility & Care on MR.
Nothing so far 4 months later so I gave up the fight as it was so draining - hence no BB despite having a 10 year award for not being able to mobilise more than 1 metre safely. 

That’s odd because in a previous comment you said you were contacted in 2019 to tell you a review had taken place and they extended your award for 10 years until 2029. Comment here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/724894#Comment_724894

Eventually following an earlier MR,  in 2019, when the original decision was NIL on both care and Mobility, it changed to Enhanced Care & Mobility for 10 years - that is 2029.
That award letter/notice/report was sent to the LA in support of the BB renewal in 2020.
That is one of the original documents I sent them now lost by the LA. 
The DWP say that they cannot re-issue the award notice showing the points etc but only the letter saying that my award will run until 2029. No point as the LA wants to see the make up of the award, points etc and award length as that info is not on the 2019 letter.

2oldcodgers

Jimm_Scope said:

I don't think oldcodgers is saying he didn't get a 10 year ward. But the letter he received only mentioned the length of the award, it didn't mention any change in award, despite there being a change in award? And they're refusing to send any letters confirming amendment of award.

Perhaps I've mis-read but that's what I got out of the comments.

Spot on!!

There were two notices/letters received from the DWP - one that showed the revised award - points, descriptors etc and then a second letter came some weeks later telling me that my revised award will run until 2029.
The LA want both of those which together give the points awarded etc and the award length. They had both in 2020 but they admit now to losing them. The DWP can only send me a copy of the 2nd letter. The LA wants both to prove the points gained, the award given and for how long.

chiarieds

When I did my last online application for a BB, I had had my PIP award extended, so I used my PIP decision letter showing the points I'd been awarded, & where, then added my letter showing my award had been extended. I can understand why your LA would also want both, what I can't understand is why, after explaining why you need it, you can't get a copy of the Mandatory Reconsideration you need showing the actual points.

Be aware that you could ring the PIP enquiry line, & get 3 different responses to a query, so it might be worth ringing again to see if you could get a more helpful & understanding person.

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

poppy123456 said:

2oldcodgers said:

Brilliant. So pleased that you managed to get the BB. I presume that it was via the automatic system.
My main issue is that I too am entitled to an automatic BB but that they want various bits of evidence. Award letter, current entitlement etc. All of the letters, reports etc where dated pre 2020 (2019 in fact) when the last renewal was applied for. The LA says that they cannot find these original documents so without them - no badge.
Getting copies is so hard with trying to get through to the PIP dept. Eventually back in June they said no problem we will get you copies but not of the letters amending your award etc. It went from NIL award to Enhanced Mobility & Care on MR.
Nothing so far 4 months later so I gave up the fight as it was so draining - hence no BB despite having a 10 year award for not being able to mobilise more than 1 metre safely. 

That’s odd because in a previous comment you said you were contacted in 2019 to tell you a review had taken place and they extended your award for 10 years until 2029. Comment here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/724894#Comment_724894

The DWP say that they cannot re-issue the award notice showing the points etc but only the letter saying that my award will run until 2029.

It’s not the DWP you ring, it’s a call centre. They absolutely can send you out a letter giving details of your current PIP award, which will include where all points were scored and when the award ends. 

2oldcodgers

???? I telephoned the number from their website - PIP Helpline
Where does the call centre come into being?

I'll ring them the PIP number again on Monday as I will be going into hospital in the morning for tests etc.

MW123

@BrettW It's good to hear that you've successfully obtained the blue badge, and the process was both uncomplicated and swiftly handled.

@2oldcoggers I trust that reading about Brett's experience and the swift process with the right documentation will inspire you to proactively address your paperwork. In a previous post, you mentioned having a mobility car, and although I may not be well-versed in the mobility scheme, it's conceivable that having the award letter readily available could prove advantageous in case it's ever needed in the future as proof for the mobility scheme.

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

???? I telephoned the number from their website - PIP Helpline
Where does the call centre come into being?

I'll ring them the PIP number again on Monday as I will be going into hospital in the morning for tests etc.

Yes indeed, the helpline is a call centre. You’re not speaking to someone from DWP itself. Any DWP department number is a call centre. 

chiarieds

@2oldcodgers - when you ring the PIP enquiry line/helpline, i.e. 0800 121 4433, so there's no doubt, you are indeed getting through to a call centre, & not, as many think, the DWP. We have seen members being given 'advice,' incorrect info, etc., tho many of us have equally found those that answer the phones overall very helpful. That's why I thought it was worth another try to get the documentation you need.

After that, as BrettW & I have both found, an online application for a BB is no trouble. I think I got mind posted out within 2-3 weeks, tho it sounded like it might take longer.

BrettW

Exactly what I've been told @chiarieds they have said I should receive it within 10 working days which is two weeks so your timescale sounds right

2oldcodgers

BrettW said:

 They keep all copies of letters they send you on file so can easily provide you with any of them.

I have just noted your above comment re the DWP keeping copies of all letters.
I had a Tribunal hearing 3 years ago over a debt that the DWP said that I owed. My argument was entirely centered around not receiving a particular document that the DWP had said that they had sent me.
The Judge had to ask the DWP to forward her a copy of that document. The DWP failed to provide a copy of the document citing that it does not keep copies of every letter/document that they issue. On that basis as the DWP could not prove that I had received it it was found that the debt could not be collected from me.

MW123

@2oldcodgers

 The DWP's statement to the tribunal, where they explained their policy of not retaining records for every individual document, aligns with the historical context when documents were predominantly in paper form and often stored in archives, making them difficult to retrieve. 

Your existing PIP award has been active since 2019, and I can guarantee that the information related to your current award is digitally archived. The necessary documents you require will be easily accessed, allowing you to apply to your Local Authority for your BB application.  I also hope all went well at the hospital for you yesterday.

2oldcodgers

MW123 said:

@2oldcoggers I trust that reading about Brett's experience and the swift process with the right documentation will inspire you to proactively address your paperwork. In a previous post, you mentioned having a mobility car, and although I may not be well-versed in the mobility scheme, it's conceivable that having the award letter readily available could prove advantageous in case it's ever needed in the future as proof for the mobility scheme.

Yes I have a Motability car which was obtained in April this year. I had the same issue with the dealer and Motability at the time - they wanted similar information which I could not supply for the same reason.

Because I had my BB which was at the time valid (it ran out in September) the Motability people actually checked with the DWP of my award and length.
I've always told the LA for the BB to do the same as they admit that they have the same way of checking with the DWP. 

MW123

@2oldcodgers

Your local authority doesn't function like a car dealership. The challenges you're facing are rooted in your assumption that the local authority should obtain the documents on your behalf. 

It's essential to understand that the responsibility to provide proof lies with the applicant, not the local authority.

Once you acquire the missing documents, the BB application process should be smooth. After applying, ensure the safekeeping of these documents as you'll require them for your next BB renewal in three years.