Millions of people in the UK are entitled to help with getting out and about. While there are some financial benefits such as a mobility element in Personal Independence Payment (PIP), for many people being able to park close to their destination is the essential help they need.
One way to do this is with a Blue Badge parking permit, which allows the holder to park in some restricted areas, including on many double yellow lines, disabled bays and even in some resident-only areas. This can sometimes be free of charge, including in some car parks, making a day out not only easier to manage but also more affordable.
Citizens Advice explain: "If you're disabled or have a health condition that affects your mobility, you can apply for a Blue Badge. You can also apply for a badge if you care for a child who's disabled or has a health condition that affects their mobility."
What does a Blue Badge cost?
A Blue Badge is not free for everyone with most people having to pay for the permit. They are processed by local authorities which assess whether the applicant is eligible as well as setting the price.
Citizens Advice advises: "Councils can charge for a blue badge. The most you can be charged is £10." Currently the rules differ between countries across the UK. In England, the most that can be charged is £10 while in Scotland it is £20 and in Wales it is free of charge.
Badges usually last three years at which point the holder will have to reapply, however there is no guarantee that a new application will always be approved. Using an out-of-date badge is an offence and anyone caught doing it can be fined £1,000.
People who automatically get a Blue Badge
The government lists those who can get a Blue Badge automatically on its website. It says there are those people aged three or over and having at least one of the following applying to them:
- they receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- they 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)
- 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 you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress
If they have any score other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity of PIP they may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but do not automatically qualify. This includes those with a higher score of 12. It 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
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 - either for the first time or as a renewal - is made by your local authority. It may take as long as 12 weeks to assess your application, and it is recommended that you apply well in advance of it expiring, as using an out-of-date badge is illegal.
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.
