Certain people automatically qualify for a Blue Badge parking permit, according to the government’s full list of eligibility criteria. Those who meet any of the conditions do not need to undergo an individual assessment.
Blue Badges allow holders, or anyone driving them provided the holder is present in the vehicle, to use disabled parking spaces and park on double yellow lines. Holders often park free of charge in disabled bays or car parks, and the badge can be used in any car – including taxis – as long as the badge holder is travelling in the vehicle.
Who automatically qualifies
People aged three or over with at least one of the following conditions automatically qualify:
- They receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
- They receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because they cannot walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component).
- They are registered blind (severely sight impaired).
- They receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement.
- They 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.
- They 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 they are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress.
Anyone with any score other than 10 points under descriptor E in the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity of PIP may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but does not automatically qualify. This includes those with a higher score of 12. The guidance advises: “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
People may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies:
- They cannot walk at all.
- They cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids.
- They find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes.
- Walking is dangerous to their health and safety.
- They have a life limiting illness, which means they cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form.
- They have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines.
- They 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.
- They 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.
- They are constantly a significant risk to themselves or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks.
- They struggle severely to plan or follow a journey.
- They find it difficult or impossible to control their actions and lack awareness of the impact they could have on others.
- They regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control.
- They frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public or open spaces.
How to apply
People living in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for a Blue Badge via GOV.UK. Those in Northern Ireland should follow a separate procedure. The local council decides whether an applicant is entitled to a badge, and the assessment cannot begin until all required evidence has been received.
The assessment of an application may take 12 weeks or longer. If the council concludes that an applicant does not meet the criteria and they feel not all the facts have been taken into account, they can request that the application be reconsidered.
