Am I eligible?
A Blue Badge is not issued for temporary illnesses or conditions that are awaiting surgery or treatment.
There are two types of Blue Badge eligibility:
Type 1 - Eligible without further assessment (automatically eligible, determined by benefits and/or disability type)
Type 2 - Eligible subject to further assessment (your application will require assessment to determine eligibility)
This page also contains further information on:
- Fast Track applications for people with terminal conditions
- Non-visible (hidden) conditions
- Children under the age of three
- People with severe disability in both arms
The guidelines and criteria used to process your application is set by the Department for Transport. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Type 1 - Eligible without further assessment (automatically eligible, determined by benefits and/or disability type)
People who will be issued a badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years old and fall within one (or more) of the following descriptions:
- receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA)
- receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have obtained 10 points exactly 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 overwhelming psychological distress
- receive 8 points or more under the 'Moving Around' activity of the 'mobility component' of PIP
- are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
- receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
- have been both awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk, or very considerable difficulty in walking. *Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) awards are NOT included in the eligibility criteria.
| Activity | Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Planning and following journeys | a) can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided | 0 |
| b) needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant | 4 | |
| c) cannot plan the route of a journey | 8 | |
| d) cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid | 10 | |
| e) cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant | 10 | |
| f) cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or orientation aid | 12 |
| Activity | Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Moving around | a) can stand and then move more than 200 metres, ether aided or unaided | 0 |
| b) can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided | 4 | |
| c) can stand and them move more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres | 8 | |
| d) can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres | 10 | |
| e) can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided | 10 | |
|
f) cannot, either aided or unaided, - i) stand; or ii) move more than 1 metre |
12 |
Type 2 - Eligible subject to further assessment
People who may be issued a badge after further assessment are those who are more than two years old and may be described as one, or more of the following:
- A person who drives a vehicle regularly, has a severe disability in both arms and is unable to operate, or has considerable difficulty in operating, all or some types of parking meter
- A person who has been certified by an expert assessor as having an enduring and substantial disability which causes them, during the course of a journey, to:
- be unable to walk or
- experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress
Fast track applications for people with a terminal condition
Warwickshire has a fast-track process when dealing with an application where the individual has been issued with a DS1500 or SR1 (due to terminal diagnosis).
This form can be issued by the individual's Macmillan representative or their oncologist. A completed application will be required together with a proof of address, proof of identity, a colour passport style photo, £10 administration fee, and a copy of the DS1500 or SR1 form.
The application will be fast-tracked and processed on the day that the completed application form, supporting documentation, and payment is received.
Non-visible (hidden) conditions
Not all disabilities are visible, some are hidden and are not immediately obvious. Living with any disability, visible or non-visible, can make daily life more demanding for people, it can be difficult for others to identify, acknowledge or understand the challenges they face.
Due to the nature of non-visible (hidden) conditions we will need to assess your application. Having a certain medical condition does not automatically qualify you for a badge.
You will have to prove that:
- you would be at risk of serious harm when walking; or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person
- you have been certified by an expert assessor as having an enduring and substantial disability which causes you, during the course of a journey, to experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress
As well as completing the application you will need to get a Blue Badge proforma (PDF, 142 KB) completed by a professional who provides you with ongoing care or supports you.
There are a wide range of professionals that are able to complete the form for you. The best person is someone who you see regularly and knows you. Some examples are a teacher, Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), support worker, key worker in support group, personal assistant, mental health nurse.
The form needs to be uploaded as evidence at the time you apply online or sent in alongside your application form, if you are submitting your application by post.
Please call us on 01926 410410 if you need advice on the best person to ask.
Children under the age of three
Since 17 June 2011, children under the age of three have been eligible for a badge if they fall under either or both of the following criteria:
- a child who, on account of a condition, must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty
- a child who, on account of a condition, must always be kept near a motor vehicle so that, if necessary, treatment for that condition can be given in the vehicle or the child can be taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where such treatment can be given
People with severe disability in both arms
This criterion is intended to cover disabled drivers who, because of a severe disability in both of their arms are unable, or find it very difficult, to use on-street parking equipment.
When making an assessment under this criterion, local authorities will need to consider whether the applicant meets all of the following:
- regularly drives an adapted or non-adapted vehicle; and
- has a severe disability in both arms; and
- is unable to operate, or has considerable difficulty operating, all or some types of parking meter