Blue Badge Scheme

Eligibility for a Blue Badge

To be eligible for a blue badge, you must have an enduring and substantial disability that will last at least 3 years and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• be unable to walk
• experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress
• be at risk of serious harm when walking; or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person
• drive regularly and have a severe disability in both arms, making it difficult to operate parking meters

Examples of conditions

Arthritis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD), Dementia, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)

You may need an impartial assessment for those with a walking disability.

Automatic qualification for a blue badge

You can automatically qualify for a blue badge without further assessment if you are aged 3 years or over and meet the following criteria:

• receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
• receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with 8 points or more under the “moving around” activity
• receive the mobility component of PIP with 10 points for Descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity (due to overwhelming psychological distress)
• registered blind (severely sight impaired)
• receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and certified as having a permanent and substantial disability (meaning it will last at least 3 years) which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

If your  PIP or  DLA award lasts for less than 3 years, the expiry date of your badge will match the end date of your benefit award.

Children aged under 3

For children under 3, you may qualify if they meet one of the following criteria and you can provide supporting evidence:

• the child has a medical condition that requires them to be accompanied at all times by bulky medical equipment that cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty.
• the child has a medical condition that means they must remain close to a motor vehicle at all times, either so treatment can be provided in the vehicle when needed, or so they can be transported quickly to a place where treatment is available.

Further information

If you don’t meet the above criteria, your eligibility will be based on your answers on the form. We may ask for more information, including evidence of your medical condition. You don’t have to send this to us unless we ask you to.

Previous Pay for a Blue Badge, upload evidence or book an assessment

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