[jambutty]

Originally Posted by panther

I dont know if this question has been asked before..(sorry memory not that good),...but what do they class as disabled these days?
i knew someone who had angina, could not walk for....etc, but he was refused , how come?

Don’t worry about your memory or lack of it. Poor memory gets us all in the end to some degree.

If a person cannot walk unaided and it is a permanent condition then they qualify for a Blue Badge. That would include a blind person or someone who is so mentally disabled that they would be a danger to themselves and others but does not include someone with a broken leg (it is unlikely to be permanent). I understand that surprisingly someone with a false leg would not qualify. If a person experiences pain that forces them to stop and rest whilst walking a short distance, they too will qualify for a Blue Badge. The distance seems to be in the region of 30 yards or so but as far as I know there is no actual distance quoted.

A person who qualifies for the mobility component of DLA would automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. I’m not too sure about this but I think that there is also an age limit. Meaning that after a certain age you cannot get a Blue Badge but if you have one before that age limit you keep it for all time.

However all conditions would need verification from their GP and maybe even a doctor appointed by the Blue Badge issuing department.

A Blue Badge is issued to the person whether they happen to drive a car or not. Thus you can take a Blue Badge holder in your car, display the Blue Badge and park just about anywhere on the road (within certain restrictions) or in parking bays reserved for Blue Badge holders.

Misuse of a Blue Badge can earn a £1,000 fine for the misuser AND THE BONA FIDE BADGE HOLDER and loss of the Blue Badge.