French Blue Parking Badge

[David]

Good news.  After applying to Cotorep last April for a parking badge, invalidity card and an accompanying persons card, I finally received a reply today!  Only seven months plus a little bit.

I had understood that in order to receive a blue parking badge I had to be assessed as 80% or more disabled.  However, in the letter today, I have been assessed as "Compris entre 50 et 79%".  I have been refused a "Carte d'invalidity", but a blue parking badge was enclosed with the letter.  I also note that the parking badge does not seem to have a date of expiry.  The blue badge was a simple blue badge parking permit, with no other permits or disks.

I am now looking forward to parking in blue badge spaces, which will make a big difference to me as my UK blue badge ran out in 2004.

This may also give other people hope who are not 80% disabled, but who would benefit from a parking disk.  I was not aware that less than 80% disabled can still get a blue badge.

However, this leaves me with some questions.

A)  There were no instructions with the blue badge.  Can anyone explain the entitlements this badge gives in France?  E.g can I park on yellow lines, do I pay in pay and display car parks?

B)  What entitlements will this give me in UK?  Do I need to get a UK time disk when in the UK, and if so how?

C)  What benefits would the "Carte d'invalidity" give me in case I wish to appeal the judgement.  I ask this because when I first applied I only wanted the blue badge, but my disability has become worse, and after visiting specialists in UK last week, I now know that my disability will be permanent.

D)  What exactly is meant by "80%" disability, as I am in a wheel chair, and use crutches for short walking distances?

 

Hope this helps some people, and I would be grateful for answers to my questions.

Many thanks

David

[Benjamin]

I'll try to answer as best I can although these answers are not definitive but based upon Mrs Benjamin's experience of applying for a Blue Parking Badge.

A) You can only park in designated bays. You must pay any parking fees displayed.

B) Not sure on this one but I'd guess that it will be treated as if it were issued in the UK with all the additional parking/non payment options associated with UK issued badges. In other words it's unlikely that anyone enforcing the regulations in the UK will even know of the different entitlements in France.

C) One benefit(?) is that you get an extra half share for your household for income tax purposes. For example if you are tax resident in France each adult in the house gets a "share", whereas someone with a carte d'invalidité gets an additional half "share". So long as you make a tax return you will complete a box on that tax return stating that you have a carte d'invalidité and that will mean that you do not pay for a television licence. Dependent upon your tax declarations and your age you may also be exempt from taxe fonciere or habitation (not sure which).

D) 80% disability? Don't know, but here looks to be your basis for challenging the decision to rate you as less than 80% disabled. You have a perfectly valid reason for appealing if your condition has deteriorated since you made the original application. You mention visiting specialists in the UK last week. In our experience you would be better off being examined in France although this is assuming you are a permanent resident here. You will need the support of your French doctor and possibly translations of any test results you have from the UK.

I read on another thread on this forum recently that the French authorities are being particularly stringent in trying to keep the assessment of disability below 80% so be prepared to gird your loins!

Hope this helps.

Benjamin

[David]

Benjamin,

Many thanks for your helpful reply.  A), B) & C) are clear.

With regard to the 80% disability, I am a French resident, and I have been seen by French specialists.  It is a long story, but the French have mucked up three operations on my right knee.  They wish to operate again, and state that they can improve my condition.  Since my last operation in January my knee has got worse, however, I was reluctant to have further operations in France without a second opinion.

Therefore I had an MRI scan in France and then last week privately saw two of the best knee surgeons in the UK.  They both said that the French had mucked up my knee to such an extent that it was impossible to correct it.  They both said that the operation suggested by the French would only make matters worse.  Their separate and independent advice was no more surgery, except in case of dire need (one offered to try if the brace did not work, but he was not optimistic of the result, and I would have to agree to become part of a training program for his students as he had not seen such poor surgery, or such a poor condition knee and tendon before), and to try an external brace.  These were verbal opinions, based on visual examination, x-rays and an MRI scan.  No tests were done in UK.  Thus the French specialists will say that improvement is possible, but the UK say not possible, and degeneration will continue.  My French GP will fully support me, but I can see that any appeal to the French authorities will be difficult, especially as you say they are tightening up.  That is why I wondered exactly what the 80% requirements are.  Can you point me in the direction of the thread where the tightening up is discussed?

Many thanks,

David

p.s.  If any Moderators are reading this, I wonder if this thread should be transferred to the health section?

[Benjamin]

Sorry to hear of the problems that you've had with your knee operations.

Regarding the tightening up of qualifications for 80% disability, the comment that I referred to was made within another thread and was not specific to the more stringent requirements.

Perhaps if the person who made that comment sees this thread (they may have some interest in this type of topic) then maybe they could comment further?

I will reiterate one point I made in my original reply and that is to get your French G P "on side" otherwise you'll be fighting a losing battle from the outset.

Benjamin

[Llwyncelyn]

Dear Benjamin as you know my wife suffers from one of the so-called top 30 illnesses here in France. Following your advice we are now in touch with Cherbourg and not only do we have our GP on our side but our specialist as well and he has composed a lovely letter in support of our cause.

 

regards