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Apols for duplicating the query ...ofs i've lost the plot on this one:S

Hi Sum

I have answered your question in your other post: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/kunena/10-dla-...ce-next-steps#307922

Gary

Hi Sum

Your question is outside the remit of the forum, we would advise you to seek advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation: advicelocal.uk they will be able to take all your son's circumstances into consideration when giving you advice.

Gary

Hiya Forum

I cant remember if i have shared and asked about this issue on here before .... apologies if i have duplicated

I've searched in the forum to find answers but its not easy to filter through and find matches

here i am hoping for your thoughts ....

I have applied for blue badge for my son twice . both applications have been refused .

I applied for a blue badge twice for my son , after his epilepsy diagnosis. Both applns were refused. The only option atm , while waiting for PIP review and appeal responses , is to write to the authority to review the decision.

the context:

2024 PIP award inc 12 pts mobility component for Planning and moving around , based on descriptor (F) 'cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, assistance dog or an orientation aid.'
nil pts for moving around

First BB refusal was in Nov 23, before we had the PIP decision in Mar 24/MR in Jun24. The 6 month window to request a BB review the had lapsed by then.

Second BB refusal in Jun25. No change in PIP atm. But mobility has changed due to sciatica

Reason for refusal the first time was that he didn't meet the hidden disability criteria or prescribed medicines for pain from walking , or psychological distress

Reason for refusal the second time was that we had said he could walk a short distance, despite the pain and distress can take over, but it varies.

My brother is epileptic and has a BB, although lives in another borough. He had BB before PIP award. So i am confused about the refusals in our case.

i feel i am missing something in my understanding re hidden disabilities - should i ask for a review ?

Your thoughts ?

Dear Forum ,

I applied for a blue badge twice for my son , after his epilepsy diagnosis. Both applns were refused. Wonder if worth asking for review ?

2024 PIP award inc 12 pts mobility component for Planning and moving around , based on descriptor (F) 'cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, assistance dog or an orientation aid.'
nil pts for moving around

First BB refusal was in Nov 23, before we had the PIP decision in Mar 24/MR in Jun24. The 6 month window to request a BB review the had lapsed by then.

Second BB refusal in Jun25. No change in PIP atm. But mobility has changed due to sciatica

Reason for refusal the first time was that he didn't meet the hidden disability criteria or prescribed medicines for pain from walking , or psychological distress

Reason for refusal the second time was that we had said he could walk a short distance , but pain and distress can take over but it varies.

i am confused. My brother is epileptic and has a BB, although lives in another borough. He had BB before PIP award.

i feel i am missing something in my understanding re hidden disabilities - should i ask for a review ?

Your thoughts ?

I also currently do not get mobility on my current claim.

But I added on my form that I now have a blue badge and other struggles, will they automatically add mobility if I’m entitled. Or would I need to start again?!

Hi,

I’ve finally received a text from PIP - 12 months later. Saying;

This is a message from Health Assessment Advisory Service. We conduct Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is for information only, to let you know that we are managing your PIP assessment. We will look at the available evidence and will contact you with an appointment if we need to arrange an assessment with you.

Does this mean I’ll be reassessed? I received a on going award 10 years ago. This was a light touch review. I was awarded via a tribunal, and they said it’s inappropriate to fix a term.

What’s the likelihood of an award that was won via court to be reduced. I’ve added that I now have a blue badge (I didn’t 10 years ago and wasn’t awarded mobility back then).

Just rather anxious

How long is this wait?!

Hi I have been told by some that I should just be happy and shut up. Not on here. However me being me that just got my back up. I know I was awarded maximum possible but it does not sit well with my internal sense of justice/fairness. Can I make my feelings known about certain scores and the statements attached without risking them reducing my award.
I got 15 points on Daily living , 12 on mobility.
There are a lot of scores I still don't agree with on both parts but 0 for moving around is really twisting my melons 🤬. At assessment, at MR I argued both times Can I send them a letter so my objections to certain scores can be noted , especially if in the future they try to reduce or stop award.

Was hoping to get a Blue badge as it's getting harder to get out and about due to pain.
Thanks again for all the help and support.

Hi there

Quick question for anyone that can help. I gave my review form November 24. Didn't hear back at all until I phones up in June, as my blue badge needed renewing and my pip was runninh out.
On the call they said an extension letter had been sent out until June 26. They then said I'd probably only hear from them in November.

Which brings me to now. I received a Maximus has my review text on monday, which went me spiraling. I'm recently coming down from a bipolar episode. As the text was so unexpected I thought I'd be dealing in winter.

My carer called the dwp today for a bit of a guide of what will happen and to tell them it would need to be by telephone. Which the gentleman confirm. He said they have until August 14th to complete it.


So, is that time frame a normal thing? As I thought they had a backlog.

Secondly. Will they give me notice of an assessment date and how long is it? How will they notify me of a date? And can it be rearranged at all?

I'd like to go for a break and now feels like my summer is in complete limbo. After having all my physical procedures done at times were I can enjoy the summer. That's to my surgeon.

I'm just quite nervous now and really disappointed at the timing.

ive recently been told that i may qualify for 50% reduction or even free car tax, as i am on PIP & have A blue badge. my car is 20 years onld so gets charged heavily for car tax. Do you know if such a scheme is correct & if so. can it be backdated to when i was first awarded PIP?? any advice is greatly appreciated

regrds DC

hi, i have recently been told that i can get my car tax reduced by 50%, as I am on PIP. my car tax is high as its a very old vehicle. I also have a blue badge.

Have you heard of this?? could anyone please advise how to claim & if its possible to back date?? any advice is greatly appreciated

kind regards

Thank you Bis really appreciate your reply as usual. Your help is gratefully received. Lizzie

Hi lizzie23

Your question is outside the remit of this forum, so I can't give you a definitive answer.

The council are just asking for a prescription list - I don't think they will notice whether or not it is on repeat.

BIS

Hi I wonder whether you can help me please. My husband is on the higher rate Attendance allowance and is in receipt of a Blue Badge which is up for renewal. Upon trying to renew we were told it had to be a new application not renewal. Completed forms and they have now come back asking for repeat prescription list. His prescriptions are not on repeat but on a need to use basis as Dr is monitoring the medication
He has severe arthritis, excema, acid reflux and has had one hip replaced and needs another.
We have had form showing all his medications but they are not on repeat.
Do you know whether this will affect receipt of a Blue Badge as his mobility is severely restricted and he does need one? Many thanks Mo

My partner requested a PIP review in Aug last year as his walking was slightly improved. He had been enhanced score for both sections.
It took until December to get the phone assessment. It was difficult as he has depression and anxiety, and ongoing back pain so I was with him prompting the whole time and I had all the previous and current claims laid out to refer to. On the phone, they can't hear my prompting so at times I was able to speak with the assessor to explain things clearer (I'm carer).

We received the decision in January and they decided to only give Standard rate for daily living and nothing for mobility. They only awarded 4 points in moving around.

The bit we are most concerned about is when we requested a copy of the assessor's report, in the justifications section they almost always use 'no imput from MH services' as a reason to not recognise the impact of long term anxiety and depression on that activity (nor the need for me to prompt, support and encourage). In previous awards this has always been recognised, and even in the assessors report it refers back to reasons for ending his job partly due to anxiety, and that he has depression but cannot tolerate medications.

He cannot follow an unfamiliar journey without me supporting him, and he has to plan meticulously in advance and use a sat nav, sometimes with a back up sat nav and printed out google map directions. If the journey is diverted, he has to stop and we deal with the panic and reset the sat nav before we can continue the journey. Before an unfamiliar journey he has great anxiety and restless sleep, sometimes doing a dummy run if it is short journey just to reassure himself. It has happened that if a traffic diversion is required, he chooses to abandon the trip and return home. It is noted by the assessor that he has the mood disorder most days and does not connect socially other than with a therapy group.
I feel this level of anxiety and uncertainty should fall under 'Planning and following journeys' score (d). In the past I think this was the award given.

We requested a MR and we obtained a GP letter confirming his depression, anxiety and that he was unable to tolerate the antidepressant/anxiety meds due to the side effects. It took ages to get the letter and we did not get the GP appointment beforehand to give a current assessment as the GP said time was limited so she went from his medical history. She is his MH support, and he has had contact with the support team at the medical practise both f2f and by phone. I feel this shows MH service input. You cannot be referred to secondary MH services here until it becomes a serious care issue.
With the MR I referred them back to previous PIP records to support the long term nature of his MH condition even though he was not under a MH service other than GP and MH therapy group, even quoting one section of a past claim. I supplied the GP confirmation. I also expanded information on the activities they had not considered the MH imput fully.

The MR decided that they were sticking with the original score.

We are now at the point of considering a tribunal... and whether it is worth it as it will cause considerable distress to someone who has severe anxiety and social fobia.
We have to continue to appeal as he reached pension age in March so we would not be able to begin a new claim. This is his last chance.
The loss of his Blue Badge will make unfamiliar journeys almost impossible as finding parking and managing payment is a contributing factor.

Is it worth us pushing for a tribunal? Would his condition seem to justify the higher score for Planning and following a journey? Does the information I have given here sound reason enough to go through that distress?

I already went through all the site info when preparing his MR so I thought I had done enough to support his claim using this site's recommended phrasing and references.
Thank you for any advice you can offer.

I used CAB Help to Claim, have completed all the To Do items & initiated my claim.

On Saturday 7 June I received notice in my journal of an in-person appointment at the local Job Centre which I cannot access for mobility reasons (there's no Blue Badge or indeed any parking).

I've replied on 8 June & again today requesting a reasonable adjustment to a telephone interview under the Equality Act 2010 and why (severe pain, lasting effects) as suggested elsewhere on your invaluable forum.

No-one has responded, the appointment is for tomorrow, and I'm struggling with anxiety that they'll sanction me.

Please advise, thank you.

Thank you for that advice it’s much appreciated.I will give this a try,Julie

Hi Julie

Unfortunately, you don't automatically qualify for a Blue Badge - but I think their reasoning is utterly stupid. I would respond with something along the lines of :

"I am writing to formally challenge the decision to reject my application for a Blue Badge.

Under the PIP scheme I was awarded 12 points for “planning and following a journey,” because the assessors acknowledged that I am at significant risk due to unpredictable seizures and I never leave the house alone. I know this does not automatically give me the right to a Blue Badge. However, in my view it is illogical and unjust to deny me a Blue Badge on the grounds that having a seizure next to a shop is no different than having one at a bus stop. This reasoning completely ignores the real-world safety implications that I have from my condition, which means I cannot travel alone and do not use public transport, precisely because of the risks involved. (put in what you experience - and the further you are from safety - eg your car - this makes you vulnerable)

According to the government “The aim of the scheme is to help people with severe mobility problems caused by visible and non-visible (‘hidden’) disabilities to access goods and services, by allowing them to park close to their destination.” It seems I am being punished by the local authority for not using public transport despite being at serious risk of harm whenever I have to leave the house, walk any distance or navigate public spaces.

I urge you to review this decision. "

I can't say that this will make any difference, but this is the argument I would use.

BIS

Hello,I received 12 points on planning and following a journey because I have seizures and can drop in an instant without warning.I applied for a blue badge so my husband can take me places in the car.My local authority rejected my application as they said,there was no difference having a seizure next to a shop for example as there would be if I had a seizure at a bus stop going to a shop on local transport.The thing is,I don’t leave the house on my own anyway because it’s not safe fire me so I don’t use public transport.Do you think it’s worth challenging their decision ? many thanks Julie

Hi J.C.
I have just answered another post thst you have made. (I apologise but each post has to be moderated and this can cause delay.)
I'm sorry to hear that you are on your own. Perhaps there are self help groups in your neighbourhood or Meet up Mondays style events? Your local GP or library might have more information about this. Often these sociable groups can provude the opportunity to initiate conversations with people who have similar health problems and the main value is to discuss self help, coping stateless etc. Website self help groups or charities for your conditions may also provide forums to ask for information.
Please read the other post together with this post as you hsve provided more crucial information that I wasn't aware of in your previous post.
First thing - you can always ask DWP to revise benefit to upgrade from standard rate daily living to enhanced rate if your health has become sufficiently worse to merit the additional necessary points. However, the change of circumstances needs to be due to actual bad health not eg a change in living arrangements or lack of availability of a carer.
Mobility awards can not be granted after pension age if you haven't had this before, no matter how bad your walking or ability to make journeys has become. Likewise if you do have a standard mobility award prior to pension age this can not be increased.
I believe your other post mentioned that the current award was made over 2 years ago. This is too long ago to appeal.
Please confirm when did you reach state retirement age, and be eligible for state pension?
If you have reached SRA then I fear that you can no longer receive the mobility award. I have considered relevant caselaw and legislation and none of the listed exceptions seem to apply in the circumstances you have described.
If I am wrong, and you have yet to reach State Retirement Age and this is impending, then if you want to gain a mobility award you MUST ask for a revision now. Then, even if the decision is after SRA or even if you need to appeal, this won't matter because the review was commenced before you were age barred.
Even if you can't get a mobility award under PIP, you can still ask your local council for a Blue Badge. Yoy will have to fill out the entire form, but if you have eg a local Citizens Advice Office someone there might be able to help with the form.
I'm sorry that this may not be a very positive answer but I hope this nevertheless helps.
LL26