Blue Badge scheme

The Disabled Person's Parking Badge scheme, also known as the Blue Badge scheme, helps people who have an ongoing substantial disability or condition which can restrict and impair them.

You automatically qualify for a badge if you are aged 3 or over and meet at least one of the following:

• Receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with:
  • 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component
  • 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity (due to overwhelming psychological distress)
• Are registered blind (severely sight impaired) · Receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• Have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have a certified permanent and substantial disability affecting walking

You may qualify if one or more of the following applies:

• Cannot walk at all
• Cannot walk without help or mobility aids
• Find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness, or time
• Walking is dangerous to your health and safety and/or others
• Have a life-limiting illness and an SR1 form (i.e. have a progressive disease and consequently you would not be surprised if they were to live for less than 12 months)
• Have a severe disability in both arms, drive regularly, and cannot use pay-and-display machines
• Have a child under 3 who:
  • Needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment or
  • Must be kept near a vehicle for emergency medical treatment 
• Are a constant significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles or in traffic
• Struggle severely to plan or follow a journey
• Find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of their impact
• Regularly have intense and overwhelming responses causing temporary loss of behavioural control · Frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces

You can apply for yourself, someone else or an organisation.

The Blue Badge is issued to a person, not a vehicle. The badge holder must be in the vehicle when it is being used unless they are being picked up or dropped off.

Read more about the rights and responsibilities of Blue Badge Holders here.

Where you can use a Blue Badge

A guidance booklet will be sent to you with your blue badge.

You can check where you can use your Blue Badge and which other European countries recognise it through the GOV.uk website. 

Relocation

If you relocate to another county in England, your Blue Badge will remain valid until its expiration date.

Once your badge has expired, you must apply for a renewal with the local council in your new area.