For discretionary physical disability category applicants
If you are applying under the ‘I find walking difficult’ application route, we require supporting documents to help us understand your medical condition, treatment plan, and the impact this has on your mobility. This helps us to assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria set by the Department for Transport (DfT).
The most helpful documents are those that:
- Confirm your diagnosis or medical condition
- Outline your treatment plan or ongoing care
- Explain how your mobility is affected
- Describe symptoms that impact your ability to walk or move around, such as pain breathlessness, fatigue, balance issues, or falls
- Confirm the use of mobility aids, specialist equipment, or assistance from another person
- Give an indication of the distance you can walk and any difficulties you experience when doing so
Supporting documents are most useful when they have been issued within the last three years, and more recent evidence provides us with a better understanding of your current mobility needs.
Examples of suitable supporting documentation include:
- A GP patient summary (available free of charge from your GP surgery)
- Hospital letters
- Consultant reports
- Physiotherapy assessments
- Occupational therapy reports
- Occupational health reports
- Details of workplace/education adjustments
- Any other relevant evidence that explains your mobility difficulties and the impact they have on your daily activities
If you do not have any of the documents listed above:
Anyone can request a GP patient summary from your GP surgery free of charge. This document is sufficient to meet the minimum evidence requirement and can be uploaded with your application.
For applicants automatically qualifying
For applicants who automatically qualify, you may be asked to provide proof of your entitlement to your qualifying benefit.
The documents suitable for each are listed below. Please be aware it is your responsibility to find and provide the below documentation, as we are unable to request documentation on your behalf.
Your Blue Badge will expire at the end of your current entitlement shown on you provide as evidence, or for three years from the date of issue, whichever is first.
Please provide copies of documents, as original documents cannot be returned.
Severely sight impaired
Please provide a copy of your ophthalmologist's report / CVI / BD8 form.
Receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
We will check the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database to check if you are eligible. If we are unable to establish eligibility we will ask you to provide a copy of your entitlement letter for the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) issued within the last 12 months or an original copy of your yearly update letter. Read more Disability Living Allowance information on the GOV.UK website
Receive the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
Please provide a copy of your entitlement letter for the War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS). Read more War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement guidance on the GOV.UK website.
Receive award under Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)
Please provide a copy of your award letter confirming receipt of tariffs 1-8 under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme. This should certify that you have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty walking.
The Department for Transport (DfT) have confirmed that proof of Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) only does not qualify automatically for a Blue Badge. Read more Armed Forces Compensation Scheme guidance on the GOV.UK website.
You meet the 'moving around' requirements for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component
We will check the DWP database to check if you are eligible. If we are unable to establish eligibility we will ask you to provide a copy of your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letter issued within the last 12 months, showing you have been awarded 8 or more points on the 'moving around descriptor' only. This must include the front page, expiry date of your award and the page showing your score for the 'moving around' section.
If your letter was not issued within the last 12 months, you must also include a copy of your annual uprating letter showing your current name and address.
Please watch our short PIP Moving Around Eligibility video (youtube.com) that confirms the parts of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) entitlement letter we need. Read Personal Independence Payment overview on the GOV.UK website.
You meet the 'planning and following a journey' requirements for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component
We will check the DWP database to check if you are eligible. If we are unable to establish eligibility we will ask you to provide a copy of your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letter issued within the last 12 months, showing you have been awarded descriptor E which states 'you cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress'. This must include the front page, the expiry date of your award and the page showing your score for the 'planning and following a journey' section.
If your letter was not issued within the last 12 months, you must also include a copy of your annual uprating letter showing your current name and address.
Please watch our short PIP Moving Around Eligibility video (youtube.com) that confirms the parts of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) entitlement letter we need. The ‘planning and following a journey’ section is on the same page as the ‘moving around’ section.
Proof of entitlement for non-visible (hidden) disabilities
For applicants applying under the discretionary criteria for non-visible (hidden) disabilities such as considerable psychological distress or other complex mental health disorders, you will be asked to provide proof of your disability and how it affects you during a journey.
We need to assess your eligibility for a Blue Badge. Anyone over two years old may be eligible if they:
- Experience considerable difficulty whilst walking which may include considerable psychological distress. For example, this could include conditions such as severe anxiety and agoraphobia.
- Are at serious risk of harm when walking or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person. For example, this could include complex mental health disorders, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Mandatory
A Blue Badge Hidden Disabilities Professional form (BBNV2) (opens as PDF) must be completed by a social, educational or healthcare professional involved with your care.
We are unable to contact professionals on your behalf and a family member cannot complete this form even if they care for you.
Please provide copies of documents, as original documents cannot be returned.
Optional
- Letter of diagnosis
- Confirmation of ongoing treatment, clinic attendance or referrals
- Evidence of prescribed medication relevant to the condition
- Evidence of specialist consultations or referrals
- Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Experience and coping strategies
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letters
- Social housing reports or assessments from Local Authority
- Care plans from local care teams
- Patient summary or summary care records
- Please be aware GP letters of support must not be the only source of evidence
Which part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) do I send?
Please watch our short PIP Moving Around Eligibility video (youtube.com) that confirms the parts of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) entitlement letter we need.
From the first page we need to see; National insurance number, name and address, date of letter (within last 12 months), and expiry date of PIP entitlement. From the mobility section of letter, usually the last page, we need to see; National insurance number and moving around score.
A copy of the letter, video or photograph are accepted. Details must be shown clearly.
