I am lucky enough to receive higher level mobility for DLA. It is an absolute Godsend because I don’t drive anymore and the money pays for taxis etc when my OH can’t chaufeur me about. However, the MOST important and useful thing about it for me is the Blue Badge (we even have a disabled parking bay outside our house) and my bus pass/rail card etc.
I am terrified that when the change to PIP happens they might take away my mobility which will result in my losing the Blue Badge etc. (My Local Authority have very strict criteria for Blue Badges and only issue them for people in receipt of higher level mobility) and I am not sure whether I would still potentially qualify for Mobility because of the stricter distsance criteria.
Is the 20m the absolute maximum you can walk or is it the maximum you can walk without stopping? What would count as “stopping”?
I have to walk with a crutch outside (inside, I furniture/wall surf). I cannot walk in a straight line and I stagger from side to side like a drunk. I have a dropped foot and I over-compensate for this by excessively lifting my foot which doesn’t help!
If you added up how far I could walk in an hour I can actually walk quite a long way (although VERY slowly - less than half the speed of my husband) the thing is that I have to stop every 10-15 steps to re-orientate and steady myself. I cannot just push on and carry on walking because I WILL fall (the best way I can describe it is like someone running down a steep slope and gathering momentum and not being able to stop - except that I am on perfectly flat ground and walking very slowly)
Would the assesors consider each individual section or would they look at the distance travelled as a whole no matter how many times I had to stop?
Hi, well from what Ive been told, the 20m rule means, thats how far you can walk until fatige or pain hits and you have to stop. As you can only walk a short space before stopping, you should still qualify for the high rate mobility section of PIP.
Have you looked at the PIP self test on line? You can do the test anonymously.
I can walk 20 mtrs, with a walking stick and linking on to my husband othewise I’m at risk of falling. My walking pace is slow and painful. A lot of the time I have to stop before reaching the twenty mtrs. I claim high rate moblity…hope that helps. Overall I can and do walk further but thats not what the question is asking.
I only answer this question on the Blue Badge form (too old for the rest).
I spell it out, like:
Without any aids - 2-3 steps.
With two sticks - 5-10 metres before stopping to re-orient.
With 2 sticks and an FES - 10-15 metres before stopping to rest and re-orient.
OK, so the details change, but a copy of the last form is always useful to have as a reminder. Just make sure you cannot manage the specified distance without help and support.
I work on the basis, of worrying about something, on when I need to worry basis. All I know is, I’ve just started claiming high rate DLA and thats good enough for me. All my copies of paperwork is filed away and forgotten about…my little brain can only cope with so much When and if I have to claim pip, I will start chewing my nails
Try not to let it worry you too much…you know what they about buses and getting knocked down!!
Here’s a tip, if you are called for an assesment go in a wheelchair and if you are asked to stand up and walk fall in a heap on the floor and pee yourself before asking for help getting back up. I’m pretty sure that will do the trick.
Simple, your local authority are out of order, the Blue badge is not reliant on DLA, the same as DLA is not reliant on blue badge issue.
Blue badge issue is now controlled by the DVLA, your local authority has to pass your application or renewal for a blue badge to the DVLA, that is why the process, takes longer than it used to.
If you have problems with your local authority, just contact your MP, and ask him/her to deal with it for you.
Local authorities do not like MP’s rattling their cages, which all means a swift response in your favour.
Blue Badges are nothing to do with the DVLA.
Higher rate Mobility allowance should trigger an automatic BB. You can see this in the online form.
Local Authorities have always controlled the BB; the big change is that issue is now done by a single private contractor.
If you apply online, the application goes to the contractor who then pass it to the LA - who if they approve it (£10 please) tell teh contractor to issue the BB.
Sorry you are not correct, had my Blue Badge renewed less than twelve months ago.
It was taking longer than previous renewals from my local authority, thinking that my application had be overlooked or lost in the post, I rang them.
The answer given, after they checked that my renewal application had been received, was that it was taking longer as they now had to pass all applications or renewals for Blue Badges to the DVLA, for issue.
Fact my blue badge was issued by the DVLA, so no confusion whatsoever.
Regarding DLA, higher rate, I have never received this, much to the astonishment of my MS nurse, but I have had a Blue Badge, from the date of MS diagnoses.
Take care, and the next time you apply assuming that you have a Blue Badge/qualify for one, you will find the same.
Gosh definite confusion on the blue badge situation, I just read on the link below that it is the LA s decision Apply for or renew a Blue Badge - GOV.UK Which,as it’s a government website you would hope is correct.
The DVLA have nothing to do with Blue Badges.
You can have a blue badge if you are blind in both eyes.
You can have a BB without having a Driving Licence.
In either case, the DVLA could not possibly be involved.
You do not need Higher Rate DLA to get a BB (I don’t get any DLA at all), but Higher Rate means automatic qualification for a BB. I quote from my Council’s website:
You will automatically qualify if you are over three years old and meet one of the following criteria
you receive the higher rate of mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, or eight points or more in the ‘moving around’ section of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
you receive the mobility supplement to the War Pension.
you are registered blind or severely sight impaired.
receive an award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
My wife has just had her BB renewed - and she does not have any sort of a driving licence.
You can read all about the process for BB issue and renewal here:
and you will find that it mentions the use of a contractor, and the responsibility of the Local Authority. I could not find a single mention of the DVLA.
What you can do is arrange to collect your BB from the Local Authority (like Blossom did), or merely phone them an give a debit card number for payment. Mine ring up to say that the approval is there, and “How do I want to pay?”
The lady at the town hall informed me that any new applications or renewals had to be done in person now. As I understand it, you can’t do them online anymore, unless it varies in different local authorities??
She took my photograph and checked all my paperwork and proof of identity…I took my passport and a couple of other things.
She then sent off my application and my BB was delivered about a week later. I don’t have a driving license.
My local authority was not telling porky pies, although as most of them are from England, they could be, but as my Blue Badge was issued by the DVLA, they are vindicated.
Wither any one likes it or not the DVLA holds a record of the holders details for every Blue Badge issued, this is to try and stop fraudulent use, and the out of control trade in stolen Blue Badges, so beware.
