Blue Badge scheme

A Blue Badge is a parking permit which allows people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to their destination. You can apply for a badge for yourself, on behalf of somebody else or an organisation that transports people who need a Blue Badge.

Who can apply for a Blue Badge?

People who automatically qualify

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and at least 1 of the following applies:

• you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component)
• you are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
• you receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking
• you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress.

For more information see the GOV.UK website

Note; If you score lower than 10 points under descriptor E or higher than 12 points, you may still be eligible, but you must provide evidence for assessment.

People who may qualify

You may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies:

• you cannot walk at all
• you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids
• you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes
• walking is dangerous to your health and safety
• you have a life-limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form
• you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines
• you have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
• you have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment
• you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks
• you struggle severely to plan or follow a journey
• you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others
• you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control
• you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public or open spaces

For more information see the GOV.UK website.

The Concessionary Travel Team will assess your eligibility for a Blue Badge once all necessary evidence is submitted. The assessment may take up to 12 weeks.

Life Limiting Illness; If you are terminally ill and have submitted an application with an SR1 medical report your application will be prioritised and processed within 1 week of receipt of your application.