Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
 

You are currently in: Blue Badges

Key contacts

Blue Badges
Essex County Council
Essex House
200 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park
Essex, CO4 9YQ

Telephone: 0345 603 7630

Blue Badges

1 August 2018

What is a Blue Badge?

A Blue Badge helps those with physical disabilities to be able to park closer to their destination.  It is intended for on-street parking only.  You can apply for one yourself, on behalf of another person or for your organisation.
  

You don't have to own a vehicle to apply. You can apply if you're a driver, or if your travel as a passenger.

Who can apply for a Blue Badge?

Before you apply, you must check that you are eligible for a Blue Badge.

To apply, you need to meet at least one of the following:
 
  • You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
  • You receive the Personal Independence Payment Mobility Component and your “moving around” score is 8 or more
  • You are registered blind
  • You receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  • If you're terminally ill (with a progressive disease and are not expected to live for more than 12 months)
  • You are unable to walk, or have considerable difficulty in walking, or have a severe disability in both arms, and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter
  • Have a child under 3 years of age who has a medical condition and need to be near a vehicle at all times. This is so that they can be treated in the vehicle or quickly driven to receive treatment or need to travel with bulky medical equipment
  • You have received a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) and have certification of having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty walking
Depending on your condition, you may be automatically eligible, or your mobility may need to be assessed.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that from early 2019, people with hidden disabilities including autism and mental health conditions, will be able to apply for a Blue Badge. To find out more, take a look at the DfT website and consultation summary document. 

Further clarification on eligibility, in line with the new criteria will be issued in due course.  

Applications made before the new guidelines come into force will continue to be assessed against the existing criteria.


We'll never ask for payment before your application is successful.

How to use your Blue Badge

Before you receive your Blue Badge, you can read about Rights and Responsibilities as a badge holder on GOV.UK. This tells you how and when your badge should be used, including:

  • your responsibilities as a blue badge holder
  • where you can and can't park
  • using your badge abroad 

Important things to remember

  • Your Blue Badge must be displayed on top of the dashboard of the vehicle
  • The side showing the wheelchair symbol must face forward so the expiry date can be seen from outside the vehicle