Can I Apply For A Temporary Disabled Parking Permit After Surgery?

Dealing with health issues can be an all-consuming battle, especially if your health has been impacted by a major event like a surgery. In order to make your recovery a little bit easier, you’ve probably been considering taking steps to deal with your impaired mobility. You might be asking yourself, “Can I apply for a temporary disabled parking permit after surgery?” The answer is a little complicated, so here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about how to apply for a disabled parking permit.

What is the first step in applying for a temporary disabled parking permit?

Your first step should be to verify that you have a qualifying condition that will make you eligible for a handicap permit. There are some specific medical issues that will help you qualify. These can include (but are not limited to):

• An inability to walk more than 200 feet without stopping to rest
• An inability to walk without assistance from a wheelchair, cane, crutches, braces, another assistive device, or another person
• Respiratory issues (such as COPD, asthma, lung cancer, etc.)
• Cardiac issues (high blood pressure, high risk of heart attack, etc.)
• Loss of any limb or limited use of any limb
• Vision or hearing impairments

These issues generally require individuals to get permanent placards that are renewed every couple of years (depending on their state’s regulations).

But does a temporary disabled parking permit exist?

Yes, there are temporary disabled parking permits in most states. These permits are based on an individual’s need for a placard for only a short period of time. They can be issued in cases such as:

• Pregnant women (who need to remain off their feet or on bedrest)
• Patients with leg injuries (broken bones, knee surgeries, etc.)
• Chemotherapy or radiation patients
• Individuals with temporary medical conditions that require the use of an assistive device (wheelchair, crutches, etc.)

One of the most common reasons a person will apply for a temporary disabled parking permit is if they are undergoing surgery. People recovering from surgery often have extremely limited mobility (especially if the surgery was done on their back or neck). If you’re in this situation, you can find a huge benefit to getting a temporary placard, which can make getting around while you recover a lot easier. In most states, temporary placards expire between three to six months. They can sometimes be renewed again if you are still in need of handicap parking places and more accessibility. Some states do require you to complete another application and get a new doctor’s verification upon renewal.

Can I apply for a temporary disabled parking permit in a hurry?

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of options for expediting your temporary permit. If you’ve scheduled a surgery sometime in the future, your best bet would be to complete your application and mail it to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your state as soon as possible. Then you might have a chance of receiving your handicap placard right in time for when you’re ready to use it after your surgery. If your surgery happens in an emergency or occurs unexpectedly, you won’t have the leisure of waiting around for your placard to arrive in the mail. In this case, you can try contacting a DMV employee and enquire if they have any suggestions on how to expedite your application. They might be able to get your application processed quicker because of your circumstances.

If they aren’t able to rush your application in any way (which is common because of red tape and long waits), try checking with friends and family that might be able to serve as temporary transportation until you’re back on your feet. You can also look into ridesharing apps like Uber or Lyft or see if there’s a reliable taxi service in your area. Also, be sure to have all the medical equipment you’ll need to get around (whether that’s a wheelchair, crutches, a cane, etc.) ahead of time so that you can minimize any difficulties you’ll have getting around after your surgery.

What’s the application process like?

The application process itself is a fairly simple one. You can typically get an application form from your state’s DMV website. You’ll need to include some personal info, such as your address and date of birth, on the form. Then you’ll need to get a health care professional to help you complete the medical certification portion of the application. A licensed doctor (or another specified health care professional that your state allows) will need to verify that you do indeed have a disability and that you could benefit from a temporary disabled parking permit. They’ll typically have to provide information about their license and their address, as well as give a signature to validate your application. If you’re having surgery, it’s most likely that your doctor will have no problem helping you complete your application so that your recovery can be a piece of cake. However, if you don’t have a health care official to help with your application, you can always use the services of Dr. Handicap. They can connect you virtually to a licensed physician in your state to help support you through the application process.

Once you have your disabled parking permit in hand, you can park in any designated handicap parking place throughout your state. This can make it a lot easier to get around after surgery since you won’t have to worry about walking far to get from the parking lot to your desired location. A handicap placard can even make going to follow-up doctor’s appointments much less of a struggle – more accessible parking means you can conserve your energy and possibly limit your pain while you’re out and about after your surgery. So, if you’re going to be having an operation, definitely consider applying for a temporary disabled parking permit to make your recovery easier.

Featured image by Olga Kononenko on Unsplash