Blue Badge eligibility
A Blue Badge is a disabled parking permit for people who have an enduring and substantial disability to enable them to access their local community.
Not all disabilities or conditions result in eligibility for a Blue Badge.
Disabilities and health conditions can be very varied, and the day-to-day impact can range from mild to very severe, occasional to constant. Therefore a diagnosis of a particular condition on its own may not be sufficient to confirm eligibility for a Blue Badge - we may require further information as to how much and how often a condition affects your ability to undertake a journey.
Eligible without an assessment
You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over 2 years old and at least one of the following applies:
When uploading documents relating to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) your upload must show the:
- name and address of the person in receipt of the award
- start and end date the award has been issued
- scoring page showing the 'Moving around'
- descriptor for “Planning and Following a Journey” section
Your Blue Badge will only be issued until the expiry date of your award. If your award ends within one year you will be contacted for further information.
If you receive Higher Rate Disability Living Allowance you need to provide proof of the latest award letter dated within the last 2 years, showing receipt of the higher rate for mobility. Please note you are not automatically eligible if you have attendance allowance.
Your Blue Badge will only be issued until the expiry date of your award. If your award ends within one year you will be contacted for further information.
Applicants who are registered as severely sight impaired will need to provide a copy of their Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI), Ophthalmologists report or BD8 form.
On a CVI you can be considered either partially sighted or severely sight impaired (blind), the award must be ticked as severely sight impaired (blind) for you to be automatically eligible.
A copy of your award letter confirming receipt of tariffs 1 to 8 under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (compensation) scheme, which also certifies that you have a permanent and substantial disability which causes an inability to walk or considerable difficulty walking.
A copy of your entitlement for the War Pensioner's supplement.
Eligible subject to an assessment
If you do not automatically qualify the council will need to assess your eligibility for a Blue Badge.
You will be required to complete an application form providing details on how you’re enduring, and substantial disability affects your accessing your local community. We can only assess you on the information you provide during the application process so ensure this is an accurate reflection on your abilities to access local goods and services. If there is not enough information to assess your eligibility your application will be declined.
As part of your application, you may be invited to attend an independent mobility assessment. We will contact you directly if you're required to attend a mobility assessment after applying.
You may be eligible if you are over two years old, drive in a vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, all, or some types of parking meter.
You may also be eligible if you have been deemed as having an enduring and substantial disability which causes you, during the course of a journey, to:
- be unable to walk
- experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress
- be at risk of serious harm when walking, or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to yourself or another person
A journey refers to moving between a vehicle and your destination, e.g. from the car to the shop.
The disability experienced must endure for at least 3 years. We do not issue badges for temporary disabilities or conditions. If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness that affects your ability to access the community and you’re in receipt of a DS1500 certificate, we can fast-track your application.
If successful, your badge will be issued for 3 years.
In addition, children under the age of 3 may be eligible for a badge if they fall within either or both of the following descriptions:
- a child who, due to a condition, must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty
- a child who, due to a condition, must always be kept near to a motor vehicle so that treatment for that condition can be given in the vehicle if necessary, or the child can be taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where such treatment can be given
Last updated 26 October 2023