Under new government proposals, from 1 April 2011, responsibility for assessing people who apply under the ‘discretionary’ criteria for the Disabled Person’s Parking Scheme (Blue Badge Scheme) will transfer from the NHS to local authorities. Applicants that apply under the ’automatic’ criteria will not be affected by these changes.
A review by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2007 highlighted the need for improvements to be made to how the scheme is administered nationally, including its eligibility criteria and finding better ways to prevent the system from being abused.
Under the new arrangements, the council will organise for applicants applying to the scheme under the discretionary criteria, to have an independent medical assessment. This will be carried out by an occupational therapist or occupational therapist assistant - not the applicant’s GP. All assessments will be carried out at the St George’s Centre, St Georges Road, Middleton, which has free parking.
There are also national plans to replace the current paper badges with plastic ones from the end of this year. These will have additional security features to prevent badges from being copied. A national database will also be provided, which will allow local authorities to check all badges issued in the UK and not just those issued in their areas.
A recent survey carried out by Leeds council revealed that nearly 130 incidents of people using badges when they were not entitled to do so were identified in the city over a three-month period.
In a crackdown between October 2010 and January 2011, 119 people were fined for using a badge to which they were not entitled. Thirteen badges registered to people who had died were still being used, and 25 badges were surrendered on the spot when the users were challenged.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member with responsibility for adult health and social care said:"The Blue Badge scheme is for people with severe mobility problems. It allows people with disabilities, or their carers, to park their cars close to where they need to go.
"Many disabled people rely on the access that the scheme gives them to retain their independence, so it’s really important that the system isn't abused so that it can continue to improve the lives of the people who need it the most.”
Anyone who knows of a Blue Badge being fraudulently used should call Leeds 247 4645 or email concerns@leeds.gov.uk This service is confidential and calls can be made anonymously.
If you have any questions, would like to request a new badge or are due to have your current one renewed, please contact customer services on Leeds 222 4444.
Ends
Additional infoThe Disabled Persons’ Parking Badge Scheme (Blue Badge Scheme) was introduced in 1971 as part of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Act 1970. The Blue Badge Scheme enables severely disabled people to park on the street without charge or time limit, and for up to three hours on yellow lines.
Eligibility is considered in terms of being ‘eligible without further assessment’
(previously known as the ‘automatic’ criterion’) or ‘eligible subject to further
assessment’ (previously known as the ‘discretionary criterion’).
People who may be issued with a badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years old and fall within one or more of the following descriptions:
• Receives the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA).
• Is registered blind.
• Receives a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS).
People who would be considered eligible subject to further assessment are those who are more than two years old and fall within one or more of the following descriptions:
• Drives a vehicle regularly, has a severe disability in both arms, and is unable to operate, or has considerable difficulty in operating, all or some types of parking meter;
• Is unable to walk or has very considerable difficulty in walking because of a permanent and substantial disability.
In addition, children under the age of three may be eligible for a badge if they fall within either or both of the following descriptions:
• A child who has a condition that requires that they be always accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty;
• A child who has a condition that requires that they must always be kept near a motor vehicle so that they can, if necessary, be treated for that condition in the vehicle or taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where they can be treated.
The majority of assessments will be undertaken as ‘in person’ mobility and functional assessments at the St Georges Centre. They will be carried out by trained assessors under the direction of an occupational therapist. The functional and mobility assessment will determine if the applicant meets the DfT’s eligibility criteria.
Adult social care’s Electronic Social Care Records (ESCR) system will also be used to assess applicants where the person is known to adult social care and where there is up-to-date and sufficiently detailed information. Where this is the case, an assessment will be done without further need to contact the applicant. It is likely that the number of applicants that can be assessed by this method will be small.
A tool for assessing applicants via a telephone interview will also be used as an alternative method of assessing applicants where appropriate, and would mean the applicant need not attend an ‘in person’ assessment.
Where the applicant is unable to communicate via a telephone, or there are concerns over the applicant’s identity, then the person would be invited for an ‘in person’ assessment.
For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk
