More than 235,700 Blue Badge holders in Scotland may be entitled to free bus travel through the National Entitlement Card, a benefit that many may not be aware of. The parking permit can be used as proof of eligibility when applying for the card, which provides free bus journeys for disabled residents.
Eligibility and Application
Guidance on the Transport Scotland website states that applicants need only their Blue Badge, or their latest V11 vehicle licensing reminder from DVLA, or a DLA404 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), when applying for the National Entitlement Card. The guidance also notes that a valid Blue Badge issued outside Scotland, in the rest of the UK, or by authorities of another EU member state is acceptable.
While eligibility is often associated with the level of award for a disability benefit such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Child Disability Payment (CDP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Attendance Allowance, Blue Badge holders may also qualify. Full details on eligibility and how to apply for the National Entitlement Card can be found on the Transport Scotland website. For those without a Blue Badge, guidance on eligibility is available on MYGOV.SCOT.
Who Qualifies for Free Bus Travel
Residents of Scotland who meet one of the following criteria are entitled to free bus travel with the National Entitlement Card: receiving a qualifying DWP benefit such as Attendance Allowance, PIP, War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance, or the higher rate of the mobility component or the higher or middle rate of the care component of DLA; or receiving a qualifying Social Security Scotland benefit such as Pension Age Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment, or the higher rate of the mobility component or the higher or middle rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment.
Blue Badge Eligibility
People with a physical disability or health condition that affects walking ability, or a hidden illness such as dementia, autism, or Parkinson's, may be able to get a Blue Badge to park closer to their destinations. A Blue Badge holder travelling as a driver or passenger can park for free in disabled parking bays and may be exempt from other parking restrictions.
Some individuals automatically qualify for a Blue Badge, while others are assessed by their local council, which may include a mobility assessment and meeting a healthcare professional. Automatic qualification in Scotland applies to those who: are under 16 with a letter confirming eligibility from their visual impairment care team; are 16 or over and registered or certified as severely sight impaired; get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA; get PIP and scored 8 points or more in the 'moving around' area of their assessment; get PIP and scored 12 points in the 'planning and following a journey' area; get PIP and used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA on an indefinite or lifetime basis; get PIP, used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, and are appealing the PIP decision; get Adult Disability Payment with 8 points or more in the Moving Around activity or 12 points in the Planning and Following a Journey activity, or enhanced rate mobility without reference to points; get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment; get War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement; or received a lump sum payment from tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and are certified as having a permanent and substantial disability.
Those not automatically eligible may still qualify in certain circumstances, such as having a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means they cannot walk at all or are virtually unable to walk, regularly driving and unable to use parking meters due to a severe disability in both arms, being responsible for a child under 3 who needs to be kept close to a vehicle for medical treatment or uses bulky medical equipment, or having a mental health condition that means they lack awareness of traffic danger when making journeys. More information on the Blue Badge Scheme in Scotland is available on the Transport Scotland website.
