Being able to limit the distance you have to walk when out and about can be vital for people with limited mobility. A Blue Badge disabled parking permit can help give people who struggle to get around unaided a lifeline for both essential appointments or social occasions.
The permits allow holders to park closer to their destination. They allow those with one of the permits, or people driving them, to park in disabled parking bays or often on double yellow lines.
They can also prove money-saving as they can sometimes also give free parking in disabled bays or car parks. And, as long as the badge holder is in the car, it can be used in any vehicle you are travelling in including taxis.
A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England. It is £20 in Scotland while it is free in Wales. Local authorities process the applications and, as well as setting the price, they also make the decision on whether or not an applicant qualifies for the permit.
Those granted one of the lifeline badges will usually be awarded one for up to three years. They must then reapply for a new one. There are two categories of people who can get a Blue Badge - some qualify automatically while others will be considered on an individual basis.
People who automatically get a Blue Badge
You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and at least one of the following applies:
- 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.
People who may get a Blue Badge
You may 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
Way to apply
In England, Scotland and Wales make your application via GOV.UK for a Blue Badge. If you are in Northern Ireland it is different. You can visit this link for more details.
The decision on whether to grant a badge is made by your local authority. It may take as long as 12 weeks or longer to assess your application.
If you are turned down and you believe that they did not take account of all the facts, you can ask them to reconsider your application.