A Blue Badge allows some disabled people to park closer to their destination, as they are less able to walk long distances or take public transport.
Applicants must have an enduring and substantial disability, lasting for, or expected to for, at least three years. This does not include temporary conditions or whilst recovering from surgery.
Please make sure you read the information carefully so that you know if you are, or may be, eligible and that you apply under the correct criteria for your condition. This is because applications are specific to the criteria applied under. They cannot be transferred to another criteria type. So, if you apply under the incorrect criteria, your application will be declined and you will need to reapply.
Applicants must be able to provide the relevant supporting information for the criteria they are applying under. Please make sure you carefully read the list of required supporting documents and ensure you have these available before you start your application. Failure to provide the evidence with your application, or providing the incorrect evidence will delay the processing of your application.
You can apply if you are a person that meets any of the eligibility criteria below. You can also apply on behalf of someone else, or if you are an organisation involved in the transportation of disabled passengers. See the criteria below.
Automatically eligible
You’re automatically eligible for a Blue Badge, with supporting documents, if you:
- are registered severely sight impaired
- get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Mobility Component and score of 8 points or more for the ‘Moving Around’ activity of the mobility component
- get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Mobility Component and score of 10 points specifically with the descriptor E which states you ‘cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant’ (Note: an award of 10 points under descriptor D, or 12 points under descriptor F, does not automatically qualify for a Blue Badge)
- get War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
- have received a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (tariffs 1-8) and have certification of having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty walking
The supporting documents documents you need to send are: Proof of identity, proof of address and photo, and **Proof of entitlement
** Although we are able to view the DWP database to verify PIP and DLA awards letters, sometimes we cannot verify your eligibility. This is outside of the council's control and could be for a number of reasons, for example, due to a change of circumstances, change of benefit, a recent review or DWP have not updated their records. In these circumstance, you will be requested to provide a paper copy of the applicants official DLA award letter, dated from after the DWP database was checked by the Blue Badge team.
Please note the council are unable to contact or request information from DWP on your behalf.
We are only able to view PIP and DLA award levels. No other information will be displayed. Access to this information is in accordance with The Welfare Reform Act 2012, specifically the Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations 2012.
If you're not automatically eligible
You may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, with supporting documents, if you:
- are terminally ill with a progressive disease and a diagnosis that you are not expected to live for more than 12 months. We recommend that a doctor, consultant, MacMillan nurse, or healthcare professional completes this application on your behalf, as they must provide supporting evidence and ensure that the application is submitted under ‘life limiting criteria’
- have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meters
- are unable to walk, or have considerable difficulty in walking. For example, conditions which affect your physical walking ability, such as (but not limited to):
- heart or breathing conditions
- arthritis and other joint conditions
- pain or balance issues
- have a non-visible (hidden) disability. For example, conditions which may result in very considerable psychological distress when walking, risk to yourself or others when out and about, such as (but not limited to):
- autism
- learning disabilities
- mental health conditions
- dementia or alzheimer's
- have a child under 3 years of age who has a medical condition and meets one or both of the following:
- needs to travel with bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around
- needs to be near a vehicle so that treatment can be given quickly, or the child can be driven to a place to get treatment
The supporting documents you need to submit with your application are: Proof of identity, proof of address and photo, and Supporting documents for the criteria you are applying under
Independent Mobility Assessments (IMA's)
If you do not automatically qualify for a Blue Badge, you may be asked to attend an Independent Mobility Assessment, or IMA.
Applying on behalf of an organisation
Find out more about about applying on behalf of an organisation.
The Department for Transport is responsible for giving guidance on who can get a Blue Badge. You can find more information about eligibility on GOV.UK.
