You could get a blue badge if you or the person you are applying for gets certain benefits, or any other circumstances apply.
War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
If you get the Mobility Supplement part of the War Pensioners payment, you could get a blue badge.
When you apply, you will need to provide us with a copy of your award letter from the Ministry of Defence.
Higher Rate Mobility component - Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
You could get a blue badge if you:
- get the Higher Rate component of DLA, and
- you have at least 12 months left on your DLA award.
If you have less than 12 months left on your award, you will need to apply using the permanently and substantially disabled route.
Your badge will expire after 3 years, or when your DLA award runs out (whichever comes first).
You do not need to provide evidence when you apply. We will use Department of Work and Pensions records to confirm if you are eligible.You will not automatically qualify for a blue badge if you get:
- the Lower Rate Mobility Component,
- the Care Component only (at any rate)
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Credit
You may be able to get blue badge if you apply through the permanently and substantially disabled or the temporarily and substantially disabled route.
Scores at least 8 points for 'Moving Around' - Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You could get a blue badge if you:
- score at least 8 points on the 'Moving Around' part of PIP, and
- you have at least 12 months left on your award.
If you have less than 12 months left on your award, you will need to apply using the permanently and substantially disabled route.
Your badge will expire after 3 years, or when your PIP award runs out (whichever comes first).
You do not need to provide evidence when you apply. We will use Department of Work and Pensions records to confirm if you are eligible.
Scores at least 12 points for 'Planning and Following a Journey' - Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You could get a blue badge if you:
- Score at least 12 points for 'Planning and Following a journey' part of PIP payment, and
- You have at least 12 months left on your award.
If you have less than 12 months left on your award, you will need to apply using the permanently and substantially disabled route.
Your badge will expire after 3 years, or when your PIP award runs out (whichever comes first).
You do not need to provide evidence when you apply. We will use Department of Work and Pensions records to confirm if you are eligible.
Gets tariff 1 to 8 - Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
If you get tariff 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, you could get a blue badge.
When you apply, you will need to provide us with a copy of your award letter from the Ministry of Defence.
Gets tariff 6 - Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
If you get tariff 6 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, you could get a blue badge.
When you apply, you will need to provide us with a copy of your award letter from the Ministry of Defence.
Registered blind or have severely impaired sight
You could get a blue badge if you:
- are registered as blind, or
- have severely impaired sight.
When you apply, you will need to provide evidence. Please send us one of these documents:
- your Local Authority Registration Card,
- a report from your ophthalmologist, or
- your Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI).
Partially sighted
If you are partially sighted, you may be able to apply for a blue badge by submitting a medical application. When you apply, please give us as much information as possible about how your mobility is affected.
Apply using the permanently and substantially disabled route.
Disability in both arms and drive a vehicle
You could get a blue badge if you:
- have a permanent and severe disability in both arms, and cannot operate all, or some types of parking equipment, and
- drive a vehicle.
You cannot get a blue badge if you have a disability:
- in both arms but do not drive a vehicle
- in one arm, or
- that is not permanent.
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your driving license (front and back). Your driving license must have code 40 (for adapted steering) or code 79 (for a vehicle with restrictions), and
- medical evidence that you have a disability in both arms. This could be reports, summaries or a letter from a healthcare professional.
Child under 3 that needs bulky medical equipment
You could get a blue badge if:
- your child is under 3 years old and needs bulky medical equipment, and
- it is too difficult to carry the equipment around.
When you apply, you will need to provide a confirmation letter from a paediatrician.
If your application is successful, the blue badge will be valid until the day after your child's third birthday. After this, you will need to re-apply through the permanently and substantially disabled route.
Child under 3 who needs to be near a vehicle
You could get a blue badge if your child is under 3 years old and needs to be kept close to a vehicle. This is so they can:
- have access to life-saving equipment or treatment in the vehicle, or
- be transported to a place where they can get life-saving treatment.
When you apply, you will need to provide a confirmation letter from a paediatrician.
If your application is successful, the blue badge will be valid until the day after your child's third birthday. After this, you will need to re-apply through the permanently and substantially disabled route.
Terminal illness
You could get a blue badge if you have a terminal illness that significantly limits your mobility.
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- SR1 form, or
- confirmation of your illness.
You can get this evidence from a MacMillan or Tenovous nurse, a hospice worker, or a specialist healthcare professional.
Permanently and substantially disabled
Your eligibility for a blue badge is based on your mobility, and not on your medical conditions.
You could get a blue badge if you:
- have a permanent and substantial disability that causes difficulty when walking very short distances, or
- are unable to walk at all.
We will decide if you are eligible based on:
- If you have excessive pain when walking
- How breathless you are when you walk
- The speed, distance, and length of time that you can walk for
- How you move as you walk (your gait)
- If you use any walking aids
- Your ability to walk indoors and outdoors.
If you have one of these conditions, you cannot usually get a blue badge. However, in rare cases, they may be considered if it seriously affects your ability to move. For example:
- Crohn's disease or Colitis
- Pregnancy
- An illness or injury that does not severely impact your mobility.
How to apply
Please provide as much information as you can in your application. You will need supply evidence to support your application even if you have had a blue badge in the past.
If you do not supply enough evidence, your application could be delayed or refused.
For example, you could provide proof:
These are examples. You do not have to provide all of these documents.
- Of your medical condition and how it affects your mobility. This could be a report, letter, or summary from a healthcare professional, and must be dated within the last 12 months,
- Of any repeat prescriptions for medication,
- Of a prescription for oxygen,
- Of any treatment you have received in the last 5 years (for example, physiotherapy or clinics)
- That you need help from a carer (for example, a copy of your care plan)
- That you use Meals on Wheels service,
- That you use Telecare,
- That you are involved with Social Services,
- That you use mobility aids (this could be a receipt for the aid, or a copy of your care plan that states what aids you need).
We accept evidence from these healthcare professionals:
- Consultants
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Pain clinic nurses
- District nurses
- Support workers
- Carers
- Social Services Employees
Appointment letters, cards and prescriptions do not count as evidence on their own, as they do not describe how your mobility is affected. However, you can use them to support your application.
If you are unable to provide supporting evidence with your application, we can accept a copy of your GP summary notes. However, as these notes may not describe how your mobility is affected, your application could be referred to the Independent Advisory Service for further assessment.
Assessment
As part of your application, you may be referred to the Independent Advisory Service for further medical assessment. If this happens, we will send you a form to complete.
They will try and make desk-based assessments where possible, however, they may ask for further assessments by phone or in person.
Temporarily and substantially disabled for at least 12 months
You could get a temporary 12-month blue badge if you are recovering from:
- a complex leg fracture that lasts for at least a year (such as a fracture that needs external fixators),
- a stroke or head injury that impacts your mobility,
- a joint replacement that severely limits mobility (such as hip or knee), or
- spinal trauma.
You could also get a blue badge if you are receiving treatment for an illness that impacts your mobility. For example, cancer.
How to apply
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- evidence about your condition and how it affects your mobility from a healthcare professional. This could be a letter, report, or summary, and
- the dates that you had or are expected to have your surgery.
We accept evidence from these healthcare professionals:
- Surgeon
- Consultant
- Occupational Therapist
- Social Services Rehabilitation Team
- Physiotherapist
Your application will be referred to a team of independent occupational therapists for further assessment.
Assessment
As part of your application, you will be referred to the Independent Advisory Service for further medical assessment. If this happens, we will send you a form to complete.
They will try and make desk-based assessments where possible, however, they may ask for further assessments by phone or in person.
Severe cognitive impairment
You could get a blue badge if you cannot follow a plan or journey without the help of someone else.
How to apply
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- proof of your cognitive impairment from a healthcare professional. This could be a letter, report, summary, or a copy of your care plan,
- a confirmation letter from the Memory Team at Llandough Hospital, or
- a statement of Additional Learning Needs (SEN), or an individual development plan. These must be dated within the last 12 months.
We accept evidence from these healthcare professionals:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Paediatricians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Memory Clinic
Assessment
As part of your application, you may be also referred to the Independent Advisory Service for further medical assessment. If this happens, we will send you a form to complete.
They will try and make desk-based assessments where possible, however, they may ask for further assessments by phone or in person.
Organisations that transport disabled people
You could get a blue badge if you work for an organisation that cares for, and transports disabled people. Apply for a blue badge as an organisation.
