How to get a Blue Badge

Local Authorities are in charge of Blue Badges. You will automatically quality for a Blue Badge if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a score of eight points or more in the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component. People who are not automatically eligible can apply and will have to undergo further assessment.

Blue Badges usually last up to three years. You must reapply for a Blue Badge before your current one expires.

Having a Blue Badge often means that you can park:

• On single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, unless there is a ban on loading or unloading
• At ‘on-street’ parking meters and pay-and-display machines for free and for as long as you need to
• In disabled parking bays

The parking rules for Blue Badge holders are not the same for every area, so make sure that you check with your local authority as well as the area you are visiting.

A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England and Northern Ireland, £20 in Scotland, and is free in Wales.

To be eligible for a Blue Badge, you must be considered to have a disability where you are unable to walk or have considerable difficulty in walking. You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over three years old and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• You receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you score eight points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component
• You receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress
• You receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• You are registered as blind

If you do not meet the criteria above but have considerable difficulty in walking, a medical condition which means you must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment, or if you lack the ability to work a parking meter owing to a disability in both of your arms, you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge. Refer to the guidance on who can get a Blue Badge by the Department for Transport.

It’s your local council that will decide if you are eligible for a Blue Badge. It may take up to 12 weeks to assess your application. Your assessment will only start once the necessary evidence has been submitted.

When applying, inform assessors that you have a muscle wasting condition and describe how it affects you. Emphasise that your ability to do things varies on different days – use your worst day as an example.

To qualify, your assessor will check that:

• You are unable to walk, or
• You have a physical disability that means you cannot walk far without experiencing severe discomfort, or
• The physical effort needed to walk could damage your health

Your mobility may need to be assessed by a medical professional, such as an occupational therapist (OT).

If you live in England or Wales, you can renew or apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK.

If you live in Scotland, you can renew or apply for a Blue Badge on MyGov.Scot

If you’re in Northern Ireland, you can renew or apply for a Blue Badge at indirect.

What can I do if my application is refused?

If your local authority refuses your application, they are obliged to give you a reason why. If you do not think that they have adequately assessed your needs, or have overlooked vital information, you can ask them to re-consider your case. You can also re-apply if you feel that your mobility problems have become more serious since a previous assessment.