Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination – and the rules have been expanded in recent years, with the full list of requirements available
For those with a disability that affects mobility, getting around can be challenging. Blue Badges can significantly ease this, whether it’s for attending an appointment, shopping, or simply going out.
Blue Badges are designed to assist individuals with disabilities or health conditions by allowing them to park nearer to their destination. The badge permits the holder, or anyone driving them as long as they are in the vehicle, to utilise disabled parking spaces and even park on double yellow lines. The benefits of a Blue Badge extend beyond just easy access – it can also provide financial relief as holders often have the privilege of free parking in disabled bays or car parks.
Moreover, the badge can be used in any vehicle the holder is travelling in, including taxis, as long as they are present. In England, a Blue Badge costs up to £10, while in Scotland it’s £20, and it’s free in Wales. Local authorities process these badges, determining eligibility and setting the price.
Typically, a Blue Badge is valid for up to three years before the holder needs to reapply. There are two categories of people who can obtain a Blue Badge – some qualify automatically, while others are assessed on an individual basis, reports Lancs Live.
People who automatically get a Blue Badge.
If you are aged three or over and meet at least one of the following criteria, you automatically qualify for a Blue Badge:
- you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component)
- you are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
- you receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 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
If you have any score other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity of PIP you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but you do not automatically qualify. This includes if you have a higher score of 12. You will have to provide evidence to demonstrate your eligibility which will be assessed as part of your application.
If you’ve scored anything other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity of PIP, you might still be eligible for a Blue Badge. However, automatic qualification isn’t guaranteed, even if your score is higher at 12.
You’ll need to provide evidence to prove your eligibility, which will be evaluated during your application process.
Who can get a Blue Badge?
You could be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies:
- you cannot walk at all
- you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids
- you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes
- walking is dangerous to your health and safety
- you have a life limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form
- you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines
- you have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
- you have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment
- you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks
- you struggle severely to plan or follow a journey
- you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others
- you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control
- you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces
In England, Scotland and Wales, you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK. If you’re in Northern Ireland, there’s a different application process.
Your local council will determine your eligibility for a badge. They can’t begin the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence.
The assessment of your application may take 12 weeks or longer. If they decide that you’re not eligible and you believe they didn’t consider all the facts, you can request them to reconsider your application.
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