Woman Denied Permanent Disabled Parking Permit After 30-Year-Old Accident
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Frida Ketlov, who lost her toes in a bus accident 30 years ago and suffers permanent disability, is struggling to renew her disabled parking permit. Despite medical confirmation of her permanent condition, the Ministry of Transport requires frequent renewals, causing her significant distress and limiting her mobility. The ministry cites recent reforms to prevent fraud as the reason for stricter, temporary permit issuance.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Woman with permanent disability denied permanent parking permit.
- Ministry of Transport requires frequent renewals despite medical proof.
- Accident victim accepted settlement, forfeiting future benefits.
- Stricter permit rules implemented due to past fraud.
- Reform aims to transfer assessment to other government bodies.
Frida Ketlov, a 27-year-old single mother from Tel Aviv, suffered a severe foot injury nearly thirty years ago when an Egged bus ran over her toes while she was crossing the street on a green light. The accident resulted in the amputation of her toes and significant ongoing pain and balance issues, requiring her to wear special orthopedic shoes costing approximately 5,000 shekels each. At the time of the accident, she accepted a settlement from Egged, unaware that this would preclude her from receiving ongoing disability benefits, specialized footwear, or a medical vehicle.
After years of difficulty, Frida obtained a disabled parking permit in 2008 with her son's help. However, despite her permanent physical limitations, the Ministry of Transport requires her to renew the permit periodically, a process involving appointments and new medical documentation. Frida expresses frustration, stating, "They make me miserable every time. The orthopedist explicitly wrote: 'She is an amputee of toes, this is a permanent disability.' Still, the Ministry of Transport does not approve a permanent permit. What do they think, that my toes will grow back?" She emphasizes that without the permit, she is effectively housebound due to her balance problems.
Frida's son, Meir, is assisting her in navigating the bureaucratic hurdles. He questions the system's rigidity, noting that the Ministry of Transport told him, "It's the decision, and there's no one to talk to, only via email. There is no human response there." He argues that since her leg will not regrow, there is no reason to subject her to repeated, stressful checks.
This situation is exacerbated by recent policy changes. Following the exposure of fraud rings that forged medical documents for disabled parking permits, the Ministry of Transport has tightened its requirements. Permits are now generally issued for only one year, even for individuals with permanent disabilities, a shorter duration than Frida previously received. A reform is underway to transfer authority for permit assessments to professional committees within the National Insurance Institute, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Welfare, aiming to base eligibility on defined medical and functional criteria. However, during this transition period, stricter policies are in effect.
The Ministry of Transport stated that they are working to ensure permits are granted only to eligible individuals through rigorous medical checks, partly due to past fraud. They confirmed that permits are currently issued for up to one year until the reform is implemented. Regarding Frida's case, they noted that her renewal request was submitted after her previous permit expired and is awaiting review by a qualified physician. They added that if an error is found, the matter will be re-examined, and if she meets the criteria for leg amputees, a permanent permit will be issued.