Blue Badges enable people with disabilities or health conditions to park more closely
The Blue Badge scheme allows people who have severe mobility problems to park closer to their destination. They enable badge holders, or anyone driving them as long as they are in the car, to use disabled parking bays.
They can even park on double yellow lines. In addition, holders often get to park for free in disabled bays or car parks. Moreover, as long as the badge holder is in the vehicle, it can be used in any car they are travelling in – and that includes taxis.
The rules are slightly different when it comes to paying for one. In England, they cost £10. In Scotland, it’s £20 – but in Wales, they cost nothing.
Councils handle application processing. They also assess eligibility and set the price. The badges generally last for up to three years.
At that point, you normally need to reapply to get a new one. There are some other rules to bear in mind.
Some people qualify for them automatically. Others are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
People who get a Blue Badge automatically
If you are 3 years old or more, you will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if at least one of the following applies:
- you get the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- you get a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you cannot over 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 had 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 get 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
There’s more detail to be aware of – and some jargon, too. If your score is anything other than 10 points under descriptor E (in the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity of PIP) you might still be entitled to a Blue Badge. However, it’s not guaranteed. This includes if you have a higher score of 12.
Officials say you will need to provide evidence to prove your eligibility. That will be assessed as part of your application.
Who might be eligible for a Blue Badge
You could 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/open spaces
How to apply for a Blue Badge
In England, Scotland and Wales, you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK. If you’re in Northern Ireland, there’s a different process. Visit this link for more details.
Your local council will make an assessment on whether you qualify for a badge. They cannot begin the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence.
It could take 12 weeks or more to assess your application. If at the end of this, officials decide that you do not qualify and you believe they did not consider all the facts, you can ask them to review your application.
