Blue Badge Petition - Make Blue badge Applications Lifelong for individuals who have a lifelong diagnosis

1. Are you aware that there is an option for lifelong blue badges?

2. How many individuals have been awarded lifelong blue badges? If so, could you provide us with a breakdown for the last 5 years?

3. What qualifications or training do desk-based assessors have in health, ALN or disability

	RECIEVED
Conwy	19/01/24	1. We are unable to award a lifelong badge. “Indefinite or “life” awards are not available as all badges are valid for 3 years.  Some people refer to applicants being given an award for life but that this really is a marker that no further assessment is required.  This means that when re-applying in three years’ time no further medical evidence is needed to support the application – only proof of ID and residency in Conwy. 2. None -As mentioned in the previous question we do not award lifelong blue badges to applicants 3. Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the scheme. They are responsible for determining and implementing administrative, assessment and enforcement procedures in accordance with the governing legislation. All staff complete the local authority’s disability and equality awareness training programme. This includes information on the social model of disability. All administrators of the Blue Badge scheme follow processes on how to administer the scheme, including policy on circumstances when local authorities will charge for a Blue Badge in the case of a replacement or organisational badge, as well as procedures for reviewing decisions. When they are unable to come to a clear decision to award a Blue Badge they can refer to an Independent Advisory Service for further assessment. If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of this response and should be sent to the Council’s Information Governance Unit.
Denbighshire	09/01/24 09/01/23	1. 00001967 - As per the Welsh Government guidelines, Local Authorities can ‘mark’ a customer account with ‘not for reassessment’ - if submitted based on ‘walking ability’. This means – on expiry - the badge can be reissued automatically on presentation of a photo, proof of id and address without evidence. This does not apply to DLA, PIP applications. 2. 31 badges - 2018 – 18, 2019 – 12 badges, 2020 - November 23 – 1 Badge, Until November is as far as report go. 2023 – This is because most applicants use their DLA / PIP award as evidence for their application - which cannot be marked ‘not for further assessment’ Using the ‘walking ability’ option on the application form (not DLA / PIP award as the reason for their application) the badge holder will have to continue to reapply every 3 years using the online application form and can attach photos of all the evidence required to the online application with a request for it to me marked as ‘not for reassessment’ (first time only) Once this is processed, the ‘not for reassessment’ will be in place for all future applications (stays on the account permanently) – a ‘life award’ is not a term used by LA administrators. 3. 00001975 - I can confirm that staff: complete the Welsh Government (Blue Badge Local Authority Verification Toolkit) training; complete intense job shadowing training exercise with experienced and knowledgeable staff members, attend benchmarking groups meetings with other LA’s to discuss potential complex ‘loss/lack of mobility’ cases. seek specialist advise from the Welsh Government Independent Assessors/Advisors Able 2
Flintshire		1. F00021931 – Yes 2. 428 issued between 01/01/19 to 01/01/24 by the Independent Mobility Assessor (IAS). We are unable to give you a breakdown, the team are presented with an overall total. 3. F00021933 - Our assessors do not hold health, ALN or disability qualifications.  Blue Badge applications are assessed based on the blue badge Local Authority Toolkit which has been prepared by the Welsh Government to help local authorities manage the application and verification process for a Blue Badge across Wales.
Anglsey	03/01/24	1. Yes, we are aware that LAs can flag on the Blue Badge Digital System (BBBDS) if they have assessed someone for a Blue Badge or have referred an application to the Blue Badge Independent Advisory Service and they have recommended to the LA that the applicant is eligible and should be awarded a badge for life.  By flagging this on the system we will then know that the BB holder will still have to re-apply for a BB every 3 years before their existing badge expires but We would still however need to check their identity, address etc to ensure against fraudulent applications. 2. None 3. Desk based assessors abide to the Local Authority verification toolkit that is provided by the Welsh Government.”
Gwynedd,	16/02/24 18/01/24	1.  We do have some applications that are recommended to be awarded for life. Which means they do not require reassessment when re-applying for a blue Badge at the end of the three year validity period.  2. How many individuals have been awarded lifelong blue badges? If so, could you provide us with a breakdown for the last 5 years? We have 69 applications that have been recommended to be awarded for life by the IAS (Independent Assessment Service) . 3. All our desk based assessors are trained to use the Welsh Government Blue Badge Assessment Tool Kit.  If we are unable to come to a decision on an application using the Welsh Government desk based assessment tookit, applications are forwarded to the Independent Mobility Assessors, who are contracted by Welsh Government to carry out further desk based assessments and face to face assessments.  I am unable to comment on what training the Mobility Assessors have, as they are not employed by Cyngor Gwynedd”.
Wrexham	15/01/24 15/01/24	1. 4035 - Blue Badges are issued for a period of 3 years in Wales and we are not aware that there is an option for lifelong badges, as part of our process we record if a customer has benefits or condition that are unlikely to improve so that the process is extremely straightforward when they reapply. 2. How many individuals have been awarded lifelong blue badges? If so, could you provide us with a breakdown for the last 5 years? Nil 3. 4040 –Desk based Advisors are not trained in Health, ALN or disability, if there are cases which is not straight forward then the application is referred for an independent assessment to a qualified Occupational Health officer.