Pelvic exenteration and disabled badge

Hi Danni

Sorry to hear about your dad having problems with his fingers, I'm no expert but this might be a side effect of his cancer but he should mention it the next time he goes and the same applies to the leg weakness.

Unless your dad has a permanent disability that prevents him from walking I am not sure if he would be eligible for a blue badge. The application form is quite lengthy and complex and can take a while to complete.

You can access the application form online or get a paper copy from your local councils Blue Badge office

Blue badge application details

If you apply online make sure you use a site that is the gov.uk as there are a few sites in the browsers that are middle men and make a change for putting in your application. Application for a blue badge is free you only have to pay if the application is successful £10 in England £20 in Scotland and free in Wales.

Many people will tell you that you should get one but the criteria for actually getting one is very strict.

There has been much publicity about the rules being changed and in theory they have but no one knows when they will be implemented and it could be up to the individual authorities to apply which conditions they include and the current form in circulation still includes a section that states that the conditions for which the rules have been amended 

Hope this might help.

Ian

Hi. My husband  had pelvic exteneration last August . The tumour  had also attached to spine and nerves  so he has limited mobility.  McMillan helped us apply for PIP which was successful.  On the back of that we got the blue badge.  It's worth trying for. You have nothing to lose 

 Take care 

I understand where you are coming from as my mum was unable to mobilise at times straight after chemo and we were at times dragging her along . She did not qualify as it was not permanent. Now I get it as I used to assess for them and was familiar with the criteria but I do think there should be a temporary provision for people who are totally limited for a few months especially on platinum based chemos . 

That’s my Saturday rant over !! 

Court 

Hi Ian 

Thanks for your message.. yes my Dads nerves in his fingers are quite bad from chemo and his legs to, they say it will get better once chemo is finished hopefully.  People have said to apply for a badge to save walking long distances if you park in a car park but I didn’t realise they are so strict with it so maybe he wouldn’t get on. I just thought with such a major operation he might. Thanks for all the info Ian it’s really appreciated it’s great there’s people like you on here. Hope your doing well. Thanks Danni  

Hi 

thanks for the reply. Sorry to hear your husband has had this operation to hope he’s doing well? Did he have chemo after the operation? Ahh maybe he got the badge because it was pressing on his spine to and reduces his mobility but yeah it’s worth trying though as nothing to loose. Thanks again Danni 

Hi Court 

thanks for your reply. Did your mum experience nerve problems to with fingers and legs? Sometimes my Dad struggles  to do up his shoe laces and buttons. They have said it will go once chemo is finished so hopefully it does as he’s quite wobbly on his legs to at times. I just thought with my Dad having such a major op and 2 permanent stomas he would be able to get a badge but seems they are quite strict on it. Did you say you have one now or you used to work in that department where people asked for them do you could see the criteria? How is your mum doing? Hope she’s going well and thanks again for your reply Court. Thanks Danni 

Hi .

I used to be a community occupational therapist and it was part of my job . To be honest I don’t know what the current criteria is but it used to be unable to walk or virtually unable to walk / heavily dependent on equipment. However given he has two stomas to negotiate I would have definitely looked at his need to be near  toiling facility to be able to change etc sympathetically. I would also have built a case round his fatigue levels after such a major operation so his mobility is affected in terms of his neuropathy and ability to negotiate uneven ground  etc .  It is certainly worth a try .  

My mum was different as it was chemo related although she still has neuropathy. It got more tolerable but buttons are a problem . She can’t feel her toes etc but it’s not as distressing as when she was in treatment . 

I would speak to a Macmillan advisor as they will be able to help you word your application to help him . 

Take care ,

Court 

Ps it also used to be unable to mobilise over 75 meters . People used to say they walked round the shops which disqualify them but saying you need to access the GP / dentist / chemist etc  but can not negotiate the distance from a car park to the shops etc works . It all depends how you approach it .

Court 

Hi Court 

Thanks so much for your help and advice yes as my Dad is always at chemists, doctors or hospital appointments, so maybe that may help. Thanks. 

So you’ve probably seen a lot of people trying to get them then being in the job you were in.

So your mum still has problems with the neuropathy but least it’s got better over time. It’s so tough to see your parents like that so hopefully it will start to go after his last session. Thanks again Court it’s great to have people like you on here to that always come back with advice.. Danni 

Hi Danni,

I'm not sure how old your parents are, but if they're too old for pip it may be worth getting help from n experienced benefits advisor with a local charity to help them apply for attendance allowance (it isn't means tested), which it sounds like they would get. My parents applied (mum got through breast cancer last year, though sadly now has Alzheimer's; dad has heart failure with an implanted defibrillator device). On the back of them meeting the criteria for the higher rate allowance they could automatically qualify for the blue badge. I'd definitely recommend talking to an experienced benefits advisor to see what is possible.

Good luck with this.

Anita