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Haringey Council Blue Badge
I have assisted a person to apply to Haringey Council for a Blue Badge recently. Having sent in the initial application we received a letter stating: “We require supporting evidence from your certified medical assessor to support your application which outlines your condition as to how this affects your ability to walk. The expert assessor can
not be your GP, this must be from a consultant or Hospital Department.”
I have never done work in Haringey before (and probably won’t again) but this struck me as odd. What if the person doesn’t have a hospital department or consultant, do they just reject the application out of hand? Do other authorities have these sort of rules?
The Northamptonshire Councils have a similar requirement for applicants who do not qualify automatically for a Blue Badge through receipt of appropriate benefits. The requirements are set out in their website at
Required proof of entitlement for a Blue Badge - Northamptonshire Highways
(https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/councilservices/northamptonshire-highways/parking/blue-badges/Pages/required-proof-of-entitlement-for-a-blue-badge.aspx#collapse_g_0121d789_8f6d_457a_a78d_9624b902b43b_2 Smart links don’t seem to work).
However, in some cases they will accept evidence from eg a physiotherapist.
Some councils (including mine) get their own occupational therapy departments to carry out these assessments. Assuming they have these departments, why don’t they do that?
Some councils (including mine) get their own occupational therapy departments to carry out these assessments. Assuming they have these departments, why don’t they do that?
Essex County Council does the same. All they say on their website about medical evidence for proof of walking ability is “You can provide additional supporting evidence, such as NHS or doctor’s letter if you wish. This is not mandatory.”
The assessments also provide very useful evidence for PIP and LCW claims.
In any event the national guidance on Blue Badge assessment requires referral to an expert assessor if the medical evidence isn’t conclusive. The guidance is: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-local-authority-guidance-england/blue-badge#determining-the-eligibility-of-individual-applicants. See para 4.27 in particular.
“The assessments also provide very useful evidence for PIP and LCW claims.”
Indeed they do. I’ve used them quite a few times.