Blue Badge eligibility standards and software course of detailed for UK residents

The Blue Badge scheme enables people with disabilities or certain health conditions to park closer to their destination. There are six eligibility criteria in total

Disabled parking permits are given to those with significant health issues, mobility restrictions, or mental health conditions, allowing them to park closer to their destinations.

Despite speculation they could be threatened in the latest round of benefits cuts, according to 2024 statistics, there were 2.84 million Blue Badge holders in England, meaning more than one in 22 people have a disabled parking badge, reports Lancs Live.

Who’s eligible for the permit?

If you’re three or older and meet at least one of the following conditions, you automatically qualify for a Blue Badge (Blue badges would obviously be supplied to a parent of a child that qualifies):

• You are entitled to the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• You are a recipient of a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) due to your inability to walk more than 50 metres (a score of eight points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component)
• You are registered as severely sight impaired (blind)
• You receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• You have been awarded a lump sum benefit within tariff levels one to eight 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 receive 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.

Even if you automatically qualify, you’ll still need to fill out an online application or possibly use a paper form through your local council.

You might also be eligible if one or more of the following apply:

• You might be unable to walk at all, or not without assistance from others or the use of mobility aids
• Experiencing severe difficulty walking due to pain, breathlessness, or slow pace could be another factor, along with situations where walking poses a risk to your health and safety
• If you’re living with a life-limiting illness that impairs your walking capabilities and you possess a SR1 form, this is also taken into account
• Individuals who have a severe disability in both arms, drive on a regular basis but are unable to operate pay-and-display parking machines may also qualify
• Moreover, eligibility extends to those with a child under three years of age needing to always have bulky medical equipment with them, or a child under that age who must remain close to a vehicle for potential emergency treatment
• If being near vehicles, traffic, or car parks constantly places you or others at significant risk, this criterion is relevant too
• Difficulties in planning or following journeys, or struggling with uncontrolled actions and unawareness of one’s impact on others, are further considerations
• If you regularly experience strong reactions that disrupt behavioural control, or frequently feel anxious or fearful of public or open spaces.

If you don’t meet the automatic eligibility criteria, you’ll need to complete an extra section of the application form explaining why you need a badge.

The Government website states: “Your local council will decide if you are eligible for a badge. They cannot start the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence. It may take 12 weeks or longer to assess your application.”

Citizens Advice is ready to lend a hand to those needing assistance with their application. In England, Scotland, and Wales, Blue Badge applications can be submitted via GOV.UK. For residents in Northern Ireland, the application process takes place on nidirect.gov.uk.

Applications can be made for yourself, on behalf of another individual, or an organisation that transports people requiring a Blue Badge.

When applying, ensure you have:

• Your National Insurance number, or a child reference number if it’s for a child
• The details of your existing blue badge, including the number, expiry date, and issuing local council, if you’re renewing
• The original letter from the Department for Work and Pensions if you automatically qualify for a badge
• Information about your medical condition if eligibility isn’t automatic
• Valid proof of identity, such as a passport, birth certificate, driving licence, or marriage certificate
• Evidence of residence within the last year – like a utility bill, driving licence, or official government correspondence
• A recent digital photo of the person needing the badge – this might be taken with a personal camera, or done professionally at a booth or shop

If your application is turned down

Your local council should provide reasons if you’re deemed ineligible for a Blue Badge. If you believe they’ve missed vital information, you can ask them to reconsider their decision. You also have the option to reapply if your disability or health condition worsens. In England and Northern Ireland, a Blue Badge costs up to £10, while in Scotland it’s priced at £20. However, in Wales, it’s completely free of charge.

The badge typically remains valid for up to three years. It’s crucial to remember to reapply for a Blue Badge before your current one expires. For more details, visit gov.uk/apply-blue-badge.