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-7620-444500 FORMTEXT Unsuccessful blue badge applicationWhy have I been refused?After careful consideration of your application and all supporting evidence provided, we have concluded that you do not meet the criteria that would qualify you to receive a Blue Badge. You have applied under the assessed criteria for a badge. The criteria for this is that you must have an enduring and substantial disability. An enduring disability is one that is likely to last for a minimum period of three years.We have assessed the application based on the current criteria provided by the Department for Transport and in this case, there is insufficient evidence to support issuing a badge for one of the following reasons:Physical Disability: Based on the information provided in the application form you have not adequately demonstrated that during the course of a journey, you cannot walk, or you experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking and therefore your walking difficulties are not severe enough to qualify for a badge.Hidden Disability: Based on the information provided in the application form you have not adequately demonstrated and evidenced that you either experience very considerable psychological distress whilst walking; or are at risk of serious harm when walking; or poses, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person. Therefore, your circumstances are not severe enough to qualify for a badge.How was my application assessed? We review all the information presented to us both in the application form and supporting evidence provided very thoroughly to decide whether the applicant is eligible for a badge against the Department for Transport criteria. The assessment team carry out 100’s of assessments each day and have undergone considerable training. The team are also supported by healthcare professionals who assist with more challenging or complex applicationsMy application was under the new Hidden Disability criteria, should this have been refused? The updated Blue Badge scheme local authority guidance (England) was published for use on 30th August 2019. The information that has been publicised online and by the media leading up to this, has unfortunately been quite misleading. It has given many people the impression that anyone will be eligible for a Blue Badge if they have a specific condition or hidden disability. Unfortunately, this is not the case and it is the severity of the disability/condition and how the disability/condition manifests itself whilst walking that determines a person’s eligibility. I cannot go out alone due to my disability, doesn’t this make me qualify? The assessment we use focuses on risk and identifying a clear benefit of need for a Blue Badge. The guidance we follow, issued by the Department for Transport also states that “where the presence of someone supporting the applicant with a journey negates the risk and reduces or prevents their psychological distress, then the person is unlikely to qualify for a Blue Badge. The guidance is specifically in place to help people where their psychological distress and/or risk of harm is unmanageable and therefore cannot be mitigated.”I need the extra space to open my car door and transfer out of my car, has this been considered? Unfortunately, the requirement for a wider space to allow doors to open fully on a vehicle is not part of the Department for Transport criteria and this need would not be considered as part of the assessment process for physical or non-physical disabilities. The assessment focuses on risk and identifying a clear benefit of need for a Blue BadgeI need urgent access to public toilets, has this been considered? A blue badge can only be issued in relation to difficulties arising whilst walking or making a journey between a parked car and the intended destination, this applies for both physical and hidden disabilities. As parking with a blue badge does not guarantee close proximity or access to public toilet facilities, we are unable to issue a badge solely for this reason. You may wish to consider contacting the Bladder and Bowel Foundation on 01926 357220 about their 'Just Can't Wait' card, which is a nationally recognised scheme for people who need immediate access to toileting facilities. You can see more information on this here: , you can purchase a Radar Key from Disability Rights UK. Tel: 0300 995 0400 or view further information here: Independence Payment (PIP) – Planning and Following Journeys – why am I not eligible? To automatically qualify for a Blue Badge under the new criteria, an applicant needs to have been awarded the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the “planning and following a journey” activity that states:“Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress”For those not in receipt of an automatic benefit, we must base our decision on the details provided within the form and assess the validity of the supporting evidence. We review all of the information presented to us to decide whether the applicant is eligible for a badgeI completed both a Physical and Hidden application form and have still been refused, why is this? We have found that some applicants are applying under one criteria, however when assessing their application the details and evidence provided appear to more prominently fit the other criteria. In these cases, we will ask the applicants to complete a second application form to allow us to assess them against the most relevant disabilities criteria rather than refuse the application. However it is possible that you may still be assessed as not eligible following this step. We appreciate this can be confusing and we are working with the Department for Transport to improve the application process.What can I do now?Although local authorities have no legal requirement to offer an appeal process for unsuccessful applications, Nottinghamshire County Council do provide the opportunity to have this decision reviewed. However, unless you can provide additional medical evidence in relation to your conditions and how they impact you (information not previously provided), or your condition has significantly deteriorated since you applied for the Blue Badge, then your request to change the decision is unlikely to be successful.How do I do that?To have your application reviewed you must write/email to Nottinghamshire County Council within 60 days of receipt of your letter enclosing your new evidence/information and any other relevant supporting documents you have not already supplied. The Blue Badge TeamNottinghamshire County CouncilCustomer Service CentrePO Box 9320NottinghamshireNG15 5BLEmail: bluebadge@.ukWhat if I don’t make an appeal?This decision does not affect your right to make a future application. You may reapply after a period of six months, should your condition have changed. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to contact the Blue Badge Service.What evidence should I provide?In order for your decision review to be processed you will need to include supporting evidence, such as those listed below. If you do not supply this evidence, we will be unable to process the application. It is also vital that the evidence submitted matches the descriptions given within the application form.? Please only attach copies of documents, we cannot return original documents.A letter of diagnosis, as up to date as possibleEvidence of the progression of the condition over timeEvidence of prescribed medications relevant to your conditionEvidence of specialist consultations or referrals for suchEvidence of risk planning/assessmentYour patient summary or Summary Care RecordsEducation Health and Care Plans (EHCP)Care plans from social care teamsSocial housing letters/assessment reports from local authority Letters from other professionals involved in your carePersonal Independence Payment (PIP) decision lettersEvidence of other benefits receivedContact details of professionals who can support your application Please be aware that evidence from GPs in support of applications, will only be considered provided this is not the only source of evidence that is used to determine the eligibility of a Blue Badge application. This is because a General Practitioner cannot fulfil the role of ‘expert assessor’Please note, any costs to obtain additional evidence are the responsibility of the applicant, we offer no assurances that there will be enough evidence to issue a badge. Will I need a face to face assessment?If we are unable to use the information supplied to evidence your eligibility, we may need to request your attendance at a face to face assessment with one of our qualified Eligibility Assessors. If you are asked to have an eligibility assessment and you either do not agree, or do not attend, we will not be able to continue with your applicationWhere can I find further information?You can access the Blue Badge scheme local authority guidance (England) used by Nottinghamshire County Council here: You can also view blue badge information on our website here: informationPhone: 0300 500 80 80 - Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm (Calls cost 3p a minute from a BT landline. Mobile costs may vary).Email: bluebadge@.ukWebsite: .uk ................
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