More than 235,700 people in Scotland hold a Blue Badge, and many automatically qualify for the £20 parking permit without needing a mobility assessment. An estimated three million people also benefit from the scheme in England and Wales.
The Blue Badge allows holders travelling as a driver or passenger to park for free in disabled parking bays and may exempt them from other parking restrictions. Those with a physical disability or health issue affecting their ability to walk safely, or with an invisible condition such as dementia or Parkinson's, may be able to get a badge.
Automatic qualification groups
The Scottish Government has published a list of circumstances under which people automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. This includes those receiving the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with 8 points or more in the 'moving around' area, or 12 points in the 'planning and following a journey' area, and those on Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Child Disability Payment (CDP) with similar mobility awards.
Other automatic groups include people under 16 with a letter confirming eligibility from their visual impairment care team, those aged 16 or over registered or certified as severely sight impaired, and people receiving War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement. Also included are those who received a lump sum payment from tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability.
Other ways to qualify
People who do not automatically qualify may still be able to get a Blue Badge under certain circumstances. These include having a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you cannot walk at all or are virtually unable to walk, regularly driving with a severe disability in both arms that prevents use of parking meters, or having a mental health condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic when making journeys.
Parents or carers responsible for a child under 3 years old who needs to be kept close to a vehicle for medical treatment, or who uses bulky medical equipment that cannot be carried around, may also qualify.
Application process and parking rules
Applications are made online to your local council, but the guidance advises that people with a mental condition need to contact their local council directly as they may need an assessment. The guidance states: “If you have a mental condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic, you cannot apply online. You should phone your local council's Blue Badge team for a paper application form.”
Those who do not automatically qualify may need a mobility assessment and a meeting with a healthcare professional. There is no set processing time for new applications or renewals; it can take around 12 weeks but is usually around 10 working days. Your local council processes applications and sets the price.
Blue Badge holders can park for free at on-street parking meters, in pay and display bays, in disabled parking spaces, and on single and double yellow lines if there are no loading restrictions. When using the badge in England or Wales, a parking clock must be used; this comes with the Blue Badge. The clock is a plastic dial with hands that can be adjusted to show the time of parking arrival.
