Disabled Blue Badge application palaver
Ealing council are now longer doing face to face renewal for the disabled blue badge, this also applies to new applicants.The Department for Transport have introduced a new national system for issuing Blue Badges which came into effect from 1 January 2012. The new system aims to provide a better service to blue badge holders, also making the scheme more resistant to fraud. Blue badge fraud currently costs the country an estimated £46m per year.Under the new system, Ealing Council will still process all blue badge applications and decide who is eligible for a blue badge but will no longer produce badges in council offices.There is a new, improved application form, what a palaver. Fill in pages 1 - 3, if you answer yes on page 3 skip to section 7, check list and declaration. (Page 3 are you in receipt of higher rate DLA mobility component, time set or indefinitely, answer yes go to sec 7. (otherwise give your life history with all medical evidence and proof.))Badges will be produced by an external company selected by the D of T. This company will produce badges on behalf of all local authorities in England.It will take longer to get your badge, once a complete application has been received, applications that automatically qualify for a blue badge can take up to 21 working days to produce. Applications that require further assessment will take longer.To add insult to injury, the charge has gone up from £2 to £10, payable when you collect your badge.....from where? With face to face issue, a council official could tell if the photo was the applicant. I wonder how many will submit false photos. I doubt if this new system will reduce fraud, people will still use somebody elses badge to avoid paying parking charges and or PNCs
Nicola Howard ● 5289d7 Comments ● 5288d