Recent Blue Badge Decision

Hi, I just wanted to let you all know that because you receive higher rate PIP for mobility, that doesn't automatically entitle you for a blue badge (as it does with DLA).

I was unaware of this until my son was transferred from DLA to PIP and the time came to re-new his blue badge.  Apparently you need to have more than 8 points under the "moving around" section of "Mobility" and the fact that you may have 12 points in the "Planning a journey section" which qualifies you for higher rate PIP (mobility) it does not mean you can have a blue badge.  I have gone into this in some depth with various agencies, and even with the new government regulations, they will only be interested in "moving around" or "extreme psychological distress" (which has to be provable in the form of a report )- to issue a blue badge. 

We have effectively been turned down for a blue badge by Southampton City Council because my son can walk (i.e. use his legs).  I've explained that it's not his legs which are a problem, but his brain and they are having none of it.  I have presented them with psychiatrists reports, GP reports, medication information and reports from the school and they are still refusing.  My son is 18 (and mobile) however if he cannot be outside a building, he will refuse to go in - end of.  He won't walk down a high street, or across a car park and the last time I made him, he came straight back home and slashed himself to pieces with a razor blade.

We are now prisoners in our own home, as he will not even get into the car, for fear of me parking away from a building and him having to walk towards it.  I've written to my MP (no reply as yet).  The school use his blue badge to take him out (which he needs for his socialisation) and now we don't have one.  Don't be fooled by this new legislation, it doesn't look as if it's going to be any different from the present system.  I'm still fighting, but should not have to.  The next step is a motability assessment.  Good luck with that one, I won't even get him into the car, let alone to an assessment centre.