Blue Badge Scheme

Displaying the Blue Badge in your car allows you to park in dedicated parking bays. This helps you park closer to your destination.

Even if you don't have a car you can use your Blue Badge in someone else's car, when they drive you somewhere.

When you automatically qualify for a Blue Badge

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you're aged 3 or over and at least one of the following applies. You:

• receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

• receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP):

  • score 8 points or more under the 'moving around' activity

  • or score 10 points under descriptor E of 'planning and following journeys' (unable to undertake any journey due to overwhelming psychological distress)

• are registered blind (severely sight impaired)

• receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement  (WPMS)

• have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme, and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

• are terminally ill and include an SR1 medical report with your application

If your qualifying award is time-limited, your Blue Badge will only be issued for that period (up to 3 years).

When you may qualify for a Blue Badge

You may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following apply. You:

• cannot walk at all

• cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids

• find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes

• find walking is dangerous to your health and safety

• have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, making it impossible or very difficult to operate parking machines

• have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment

• have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment

• are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks

• struggle severely to plan or follow a journey

• find it very difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others

• regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control

• frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public or open spaces

Your disability should be expected to last for at least 4 years.

Find out more about who can get a Blue Badge on GOV.UK

Apply for a Blue Badge on the Council website.