Isle of Wight residents are being urged to check whether they are eligible for a Blue Badge before applying after a rise in unsuccessful applications, including from people who have admitted applying ‘just in case’.
The Isle of Wight Council says it has seen an increase in applications alongside a growing number being refused because applicants do not meet the national eligibility criteria.
Blue Badges are intended to support people who experience very considerable difficulty when undertaking journeys because of a disability or health condition.
Council officers say some applicants have admitted applying “just in case” they qualify, while others believed having a Blue Badge would give them access to free parking.
However, the criteria used to determine eligibility are set by central government rather than the Isle of Wight Council.
The authority has also stressed that having a particular diagnosis does not automatically mean someone will qualify for a badge.
Laura Gaudion, Director of Adult Social Care and Housing Needs, has said:
“For many residents, a Blue Badge can make the difference between being able to access shops, appointments, family and community life, or struggling to make those journeys at all.
Article continues below this advertisement “That’s why it is so important that applications are made by people who meet the national eligibility criteria. We would encourage anyone considering an application to check the guidance first.
“A diagnosis alone does not guarantee eligibility. Assessments are carried out using national government criteria, focusing on the impact a condition has on a person’s ability to undertake a journey.”
Further information about eligibility is available through the Government’s official Blue Badge service here.
The whole Blue Badge & Disability system is a joke. For the first time in my father’s life, after paying into the system man & boy, after 70 years, he needed assistance. In the corse of 2 weeks, his mobility went from him being active, out in his garden & climbing ladders. To needing a walking frame & a lot of night & day help. After appointments to diagnose his symptoms a Blue Badge & careers allowance was applied for. Both were refused. He was given 3 months shortly afterwards, didn’t even make a month. So from me to the Council officer who dealt with Dads application, “ You are crap at your job & caused more unnecessary suffering when attending appointments”. You should be ashamed. What is even more insulting, is a local scumbag was given time for attacking people in a local pub with an iron bar. His 6k of drug money under his bed was seized. He’s now out & driving a brand new disability car, complete with Blue Badge to help parking whilst making his deliveries!! He’s never done an honest days graft in its life. Yet the Snow Flakes at the council & government deem him to qualify. Yet a bloke who worked & paid his way all of his life did not. As the saying goes. It’s not what you know. It’s who you know which counts.
I whole heartedly agree and endorse your statement. Far too many people who actually need this PRIVILEGE are turned down but people who know how to play the system and work their ticket get things thrown at them. Someone who has WORKED and paid into the system all of their life gets refused while nere-do-wells, scivers and scroungers get everything!
The so-callled ‘experts’ doing the checks need a good shaking and wake-up call…
Sadly the whole system stinks.
We are now a country who rewards the
work shy people rather than the grafters.
Who can respect Government employees
they are out of touch with the people of the
country.
Totally agree with you Bob, what annoys me is I know of a similar guy, never done a days work, yet he’s got a brand new car and blue badge, he’s also walked the wight for Mount batten and always parks outside a pub and drinks for 4 hours and nothing is done about it
“parks outside a pub and drinks for 4 hours” IF you know this for a FACT, it is your duty to inform the old bill, which would take care of “nothing is done about it”!
You honestly don’t think that the SO called authorities
would do something about it do you.
The mind boggles, they should scrap giving free
vehicles to people.
The vehicles are not free for your info, the lease money is taken directly out of their disability benefits and if they ever lose that benefit then the vehicle is returned.
Can anyone tell me does the IOW council have anyone to enforce the use and misuse of the blue badge system and how much of the working week do they spend on this endeavour.