Who can apply for a Blue Badge

A Blue Badge is a disabled parking permit. It helps people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination. To qualify for a Blue Badge, you must have an enduring and substantial disability. You will need to provide evidence of this.

Automatic criteria

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over two years old and at least one of the following applies:

Are severely sight impaired (registered blind)
Receive the War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
Receive a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (within tariff levels 1-8). You must also be certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
Receive 8 points or more under the 'moving around' descriptor for the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres. (The badge will be issued to the expiry date of your award if it is less than three years, alternatively you can apply through the discretionary criteria).
Receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. (The badge will be issued to the expiry date of your award if it is less than three years, alternatively you can apply through the discretionary criteria).
Receive descriptor E of the 'planning and following a journey' activity of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which states "you cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress".
If you are terminally ill and one of the above applies, please provide your DS1500 and we can fast-track your application.

As part of your application you will be asked to provide supporting documentation as evidence of your qualifying benefit.

Discretionary criteria

If you do not automatically qualify, or if you wish to be assessed under the discretionary criteria, the council will need to assess your eligibility for a Blue Badge. Anyone over two years old may be eligible if they either:

Drive a motor vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms, and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter (or would find it very difficult to operate them).
Have an enduring and substantial disability which affects mobility and have considerable difficulty in walking.
Experience considerable difficulty whilst walking which may include severe psychological distress.
Are at serious risk of harm when walking or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person.

You may be asked to attend an independent assessment. You will be notified of this in writing during the course of your application.

The disability experienced by the applicant must endure for at least three years. We do not issue badges for temporary disabilities or conditions. If you are terminally ill and one of the above applies, please provide your DS1500 and we can fast-track your application.

Badges which fall under the discretionary period will be issued for three years.

Children under three years old

If you are the parent of a child who is less than three years old, you may apply for a Blue Badge if your child has a specific medical condition which means they:

Must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment for urgent treatment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty.
Need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or quickly driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital.

All evidence supplied must relate to the child. For example, proof of address must have the child’s name on the letter.

Parking Permits And Fines

Travel Roads And Parking