Thought this is worth reporting:- I hadn’t applied for a Blue Badge as having searched these forums I thought I’d never ever get one. Then a couple of months ago I thought ‘well why not?’ and filled in the form according to someone’s advice - Dr Geoff I think - thanks Geoff!- as if it was my worst day.
So a couple of weeks ago I was absolutely thrilled to receive a letter saying that I was getting one, and had to send some documentation.
Then very ironically - after the letter came - I had a relapse problem. The badge came in the post this morning and is like the silver lining in the cloud, bearing in mind the past few days.
So I wanted to say to anyone who’s dithering about it like I was - just do it!
Reapplied for mine 6 weeks before old one expired. Sent me one (no assessment as bamboozled them with appointments/reasons etc) in the nick of time 3 days before old one expired. Had me worried.
Hi Louise so pleased that your application was successful. Two weeks ago I decided to apply for a blue badge but unfortunately I have just been notified that I have supplied insufficient information and I now have to attend an assessment. I spent so long filling in the application. Can anyone tell me what to expect at this assessment? Thank you.
All you can do is present yur case again at the assessment as per your worst days…do not try to be too independent let othets open doors etc.
If you use a wheelchair use it at the assessment, if you use crutches or sticks use them.
Remind the assessee that you can only manage so many steps and cannot do the distance over again which means if they see you walk into the office it does not necessarily mean you can do it again so for eg if you have a gp app and have to park some distance from the door of surgery you may need to wait and rest halfway to the door. Ok in summer not so easy in winter.
Remember to explain that days are different and even if you can walk from car to door you might be too fatigued to alk back to car unless it is close by.
I went to doctors today as it happens and the three disabled spaces were full so I had to park further away, that entailed 4 stops to get to the surgery door and left me wobbly and nervous of falling ( down side was that gp said maybe I should not be driving and have someone drop me at the door )
I hope your assessee is sympathetic and you get your badge.
Hi. Can’t add anything to this as I’m still amazed (but so glad) that I got it. Does it not vary (as to whether you get it) borough - by borough? When I did the application I put absolutely everything I could think of on it, thinking that if any of it was irrelevant they could just ignore it.
The booklet they send out with it was quite challenging - not because it isn’t explained in plain English (it is) but because it seems that there are more places you can’t use it than places you can! Like being able to park on a single and a double yellow. I’ve read it about three times and leave it in the car with the badge
I’ve used it a couple of times in supermarkets where it makes a big difference, not least because you’ve got more room to get in and out of the car, which I tend to find difficult. Can’t see that it would work on very busy side roads where there isn’t anywhere to park, disabled spaces or not.