A million new badges were handed out last year alone, partly thanks to a 2019 rule change
The Transport Secretary says some people who currently get Blue Badges allowing them to park where other cars are banned should not be receiving the benefit. Heidi Alexander said some people who are being given Blue Badges by councils shouldn’t be getting them.
Rules were changed in 2019 allowing councils to give Blue Badges to people with hidden disabilities – including ADHD and anxiety. According to The Telegraph, the number of badges handed out for hidden disabilities increased from 18,000 a year in 2021 to 55,000 last year.
The paper says people with disabilities now struggle to find a space because so many drivers now have Blue Badges. Ms Alexander said: “A diagnosis of ADHD alone should not get you a Blue Badge. Each application is assessed on its own merits, with local councils making decisions based on medical evidence.”
She said: “Local authorities have robust powers to investigate suspected abuse and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary.”
As well as allowing you to park in specific spaces in car parks and at supermarkets, Blue Badges override many parking restrictions such as double yellow lines. They also allow exemption from congestion zone charges and road tolls.
Approximately three million people now have a Blue Badge, with more than a million issued last year alone. The Blue Badge is a national parking concession scheme in the UK designed to help people with severe mobility issues, disabilities, or health conditions park closer to their destinations.
It allows badge holders to park free of charge in designated on-street parking bays and often permits parking on yellow lines for up to three hours. The badge is tied to the individual, not a specific vehicle, meaning you can use it whether you are driving or travelling as a passenger.
Eligibility is split into two main categories: those who qualify automatically and those who may qualify after an assessment of their individual circumstances. You will automatically qualify for a badge if you are registered as severely sight impaired or blind, receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement, or received a lump sum payment from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified with a permanent and substantial disability.
You also automatically qualify through specific benefit scores. This includes receiving the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, or receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and scoring 8 points or more.
If you do not fit the automatic criteria, you can still qualify if you have a long-term, substantial physical or non-visible disability. This includes individuals who cannot walk at all, or find walking very difficult due to severe pain, breathlessness, or the time it takes. It also covers people who are a constant danger to themselves or others near vehicles and traffic, such as those with severe autism, dementia, or intense anxiety that causes temporary loss of behavioural control.
Additionally, drivers with severe disabilities in both arms who cannot operate parking meters, and parents of children under the age of three who require bulky medical equipment or must be kept close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment, are eligible to apply.
How Do You Get a Blue Badge?
The easiest way to apply or renew is online through the official GOV.UK website, though some local councils will allow you to apply using a paper form if you contact them directly. Before starting the application, you need to gather specific supporting documents. You will need your National Insurance number, a recent digital passport-style photograph, proof of your identity (such as a passport, driving license, or birth certificate), and proof of your address dated within the last 12 months (such as a council tax bill or a letter from a government department). If you are applying under the automatic criteria, you must also provide your official benefit award letter.
If you are applying via the assessment route, you should prepare medical evidence, diagnosis letters, or a medical summary from your GP. Once you submit your application and upload your documents, your local council will review the information. Depending on your situation, they may ask you to attend an independent mobility assessment with a healthcare professional like an occupational therapist.
There is a small administration fee for the badge, which costs up to £10 in England and Northern Ireland, £20 in Scotland, and is free in Wales. The assessment process usually takes up to 12 weeks, and if approved, your Blue Badge is typically issued for a period of three years.
